
Book »v>Cg.^ 



COPYRXGiiT BEFOSm 



^J'-'''«>f 



The Word of the Truth 



A SYNOPSIS OF THE VITAL TRUTH OF THE NEW TESTA- 

MENT, ARRANGED IN CONTINUOUS ORDER, 

TRANSLATED INTO PLAIN WORDS, IN 

THE ORIGINAL SENSE 



ARTI^UR TEMPLE CORNWELL 
EDITOR' 



The Mystery of God the Father, and of the 
Christ; in which are hidden all the treasures of 
wisdom and knowledge. — Col. 2:2, 3. 



THE TRUTH Pu^^!^ ASHING FOUNDATION 



EUFAULA, ALax^"^^^ 



Price. One Dollar. 



Montgomery, Ala. 

THE BROWN PRINTING CO. 

Printers and Binders, 






/ 



Copyright, 1916, 1917, 
By Arthur T. Cornwell. 



?/ 



FEB -9 1917 

CI.A457011 



wmmM^ 






TO MY PARENTS 

Who, at a critical moment, 

gave me encouragement and support, 

though hoping against hope, 

this work of twenty-six years is 

affectionately dedicated by 

THE EDITOR. 







Into a work of this magnitude many errors must have crept, 
escaping the vigilance of the editor. There have been failures to 
express the sense of the original language with sufficient sim- 
plicity and force. Improvements in form and exposition are 
always possible. 

The publishers propose, through a succession of editions, 
with the assistance of interested contributors, to give this work 
a constantly increasing accuracy and value; and earnestly so- 
licit criticism and suggestions, from all who are looking for the 
day "when the knowledge of the Lord shall cover the earth, as 
the Winters cover the sea." 

* "tions will receive careful attention, though it 

to acknowledge them. Please address THE 

dlNG FOUNDATION, EUFAULA, ALA- 



♦ 



FOREWORD 

When St. John wrote that "God is love; and he who lives in 
love, lives in Him," he said all there is to be said. 

The whole purpose of God, revealed in His Word, is to the 
end that men shall come to love one another in mutual sympa- 
thy, kindness and helpfulness, until the Kingdom of God is nat- 
urally established by this Divine harmonizing power. 

As we all become "in Christ," living in His spirit and life of" 
love; we become reconciled, regenerated, redeemed, justified, 
saved and sanctified. 

"The Way of Holiness, . . the wayfaring men, though fools, 
shall not err therein." 

Then why have we erred, into the tortuous ways of theolog- 
ical speculation and religious confusion ? 

For several reasons: First, because we did not have the Gos- 
pel in plain words. The men for whom the New Testament was 
written were unlearned, practically ignorant, and everything 
was written down to their understanding. As time goes on the 
scholars become familiar with their idiom, and the splendid sim- 
plicity of the Divine Message becomes apparent. The puzzling 
compound words are found to have simple meanings. Predesti- 
nation is God's plan for us; when God reconciled. He convinced 
us of His love; as the pra<itice of love sets us free from the habit 
of sin, we are redeemed; as love makes whole what was de- 
cayed by the ravages of sin, we are saved; and as love purifies 
from the defilements of sin, we are sanctified. As we walk in 
God's Right ways, we are justified, or made Right; and in the 
practice and enjoyment of- the power and honor of the Right 
Life, we are glorified. The holy spirit is God's purpose guiding 
us; grace is God's favour helping us; faith is faithfulness to 
both. 

Second: We erred through lack of a systematic statement in 
a continuous sense of the elements of God's revealed Will: for 
such a recitation of these principles in logical sequence demon- 
strates their meaning better than the most learned argument. 

I have tried to supply these deficiencies; and herewith offer 
my labors in His service, confident that God will bless my en- 
deavors just to the extent that they declare the spirit of His Will. 

ARTHUR T. CORNWELL. 



"^'•'mf-sm. 



m^i 



TABLE OF CONTENTS 



I. THE WORD. 

Note .1. The Word. Reason. J^gic. Order. 2. The 
Name. To keep. To abide, dwell. 

II. THE LIFE. 

Note 3. Life. Alive to. "In Christ." 4. Death. Dead to. 
To kill. 5. Salvation through Life. 

III. THE BLOOD. 

Note 6. The Dedicated Life. 7/ Sacrifice. The conse- 
cration of life. 8. Nourishment. 

IV. THE LIGHT. 

Note 9. Light. Conscience. Vision. 

V. THE WAY. 

Note 10. The Way. The Divine Example. To walk. 
"Through Christ." 

VI. THE TRUTH. 

Note 11. Truth. Loss of Life through Ignorance, 12. 
A Paraclete. Helper. Adviser. 

VII. HIS WILL. 

Note 13. The Will of God. Law. Liberty. Lawlessness. 

VIII. GOOD WORKS. 

Note 14. Good Works. Goodness. 

IX. CALLING AND ELECTION. 

Note 15. Calling and election. 16. To put on. 17. Im- 
age. Transformation. New Birth. The New Man. 

X. MEEKNESS. HUMILITY. SENSIBILITY. 

Note 18. Meekness. Gentleness. Humility. 19. Sense. 
Sensibility. Sentiment. 



XL LOVE. 

Note 20. Love. The Heart. Imagination. 

XII. THE LOVE OF GOD. 

XUL CHILDREN OF GOD. 

Note 21. Sonship. Heirs. 22. Adoption by redemption. 

XIV. RECONCILIATION. 

Note 23. Reconciliation. Peace through Love. 

XV. THE PRACTICE OF LOVE. 

Note 24. Our Neighbor. Practical Love. The common 
interest. 

XVI. FAITH. 

Note 25. Faith. The Practice of Confidence. 

XVII. HOPE. 

Note 26. Hope; the support of confidence. 

XVIII. THE GOSPEL OF RIGHTNESS. 

Note 27. Right. Rightness. "Justification." 28. The 
Gospel; the presentation of God's Ideal. 

XIX. IN CHRIST. 

Note 29. "In Christ." The Atmosphere of Life. 30. The 
Law of sin and death. The Law of spirit and Life. 

XX. THE KINGDOM. 

Note 31. The Kingdom. The Reign of God. Conquest. 
32. Heaven. The Ideal Society. 

XXI. PARABLES OF THE KINGDOM. 

XXII. SPIRIT. 

Note 33. Spirit. The Holy Ghost. Life in spirit. The 
Sense of spirit. 34. Immortality of spirit. 35. The 
Sense of the spirit, vs. the sense of the flesh. 

XXIII. SANCTIFICATION. 

Note 36. Holiness. Essential purity. 

XXIV. SOUL. 

Note 37. The Soul. Interest. Desire. 38. Taking up 
the Cross. 39. The curse of selfishness. 40. Hades. 
The grave. Gehenna. The insatiable desire. 

XXV. TEMPTATION. 

Note 42. Temptation. Trial. 



? 






XXVI. SIN. 

Note 43. Sin. Trespass. Punishment. 44. The Old 
Man. The Passions. 45. To put off. 

XXVII. SLAVERY TO SIN. 

Note 46. Moral slavery. Absolute service. 47. The re- 
demption of St. Paul. 48. Sealed. Earnest. Acquisition. 

XXVIII. BAPTISM. 

Note 49. Baptism. The Moral Bath. 50. Death to sin. 
51. The crucifixion of desire. The New Creation. 

XXIX. REPENTANCE. 

Note 52. Repentance. The revision of the mind. 

XXX. FORGIVENESS. 

Note 53. Forgiveness. The Removal of sin. 54. The 
suspension of penalty. 

XXXI. GRACE. 

Note 55. Grace. Favour. Faculty. 

XXX4I. SALVATION. 

Note 56. Salvation. Restoration. Preservation. 



CHAPTER I. 



THE WORD. 

1 In the beginning the Word was. Through the ,Word all 
things became. In the Word was Life; and the Life was the 
Light of men. To those who receive the Word, God gives power 
to become Chfldren of God, — ^^to those who are faithful to His 
Name, . . who are born of God; . . having been born again, 
through the living and eternally continuing Word of God; . . 
He having purposed that we should be born of the Word of 
Truth; that we should be the first fruits of His New creation. 

The Word.— See Note 1: Life (3,) Light (9,) Children of 
God (21,) His Name (2,) Born again (17,) Born of God, see 
xiii:5. 

Through the Word. — the principle of Order, assigning defin- 
ite character to each detail of creation, and exact conditions of 
operation to every creature. 

His nevi^ creation. — God's new order of men; "the New Man" 
(17.) 

2 The Word became flesh, and dwelt for a time among us, and 
we saw his glory, a glory as of an Only Son sent from the 
Father, full of Grace and Truth. You are enriched "in him," in 
all knowledge, in so far as the Word of Christ becomes estab- 
lished in you. If you abide in my Word, you shall know the 
Truth; (Thy Word is Truth!) and the Truth shall set you free. 

Dwelt among us. — ^literally tented, in flesh like ours. "If our 
earthly tent-house be destroyed, etc." 2 Cor. 5:2. 

We saw. — as in a theater; gazed upon with critical interest 
and instruction. 

Grace, . . Truth. — see Notes 55,11. Abide. — see Note 2. 

Shall know. — you will know of yourselves. 

Shall set you free. — see Chap, xxvii. 



I 



12 CHAPTER I 



3 Blessed are they who hear the Word of God, and keep it. 
Whoever shall keep His Word, in him the Love of God is perfect- 
ed. If anyone love me, he will keep my Word, and my Father 
will love him, and we wlill come to him, and abide with him. If 
anyone keep my Word, he shall not see death forever. He who 
hears my Word, and is faithful to Him who sent me, has eternal 
life; has passed out of Death into Life. 

Who hear . . and keep. — those hearing and guarding; sug- 
gesting vigilence, earnestness in receiving and preserving in pu- 
rity. See Note 2. 

Love is perfected. — ^having loved God perfectly, he is quali- 
fied to become the object of God's fullest Favour. 

4 The heavens and the earth shall pass away, but my Words 
shall not pass away. I judge no man; but he who rejects me, 
and does not receive my Words, the Word which I speak shall 
judge him in the Last Day. Everyone who hears my Words and 
practices them, is like a Sensible man, who built his house upon 
the rock; and the rains came down, and the torrents, and the 
wind blew, and fell upon that house, and it fell not, for it had 
been founded upon the rock. 

Who rejects me. — who is putting me out of his mind and life. 
The Word shall judge. — ^^it is the criterion, or basis of judg- 
ment. 

Sensible. — sensitive to Truth. 

5 God sent the Word through Jesus Christ, announcing the 
Gospel of Peace; . . that in every nation, he who reverences 
God, and works Rightness is accepted by Him ; . . that we, hav- 
ing been made Right, should become partakers, (according to the 
Hope . . laid up in heaven, which is declared in the Word of 
the Truth of the Gospel) of Life eternaL 

6 The Lord bore witness to the Word of His Grace; which is 
able to (edify) build you up, and to give you participation among 
the Purified; that a.s pure and blameless children of God, you 
mav shine as great lights in the world, holding forth the Word 
of Life. 

Bore witness. — God proved, in Christ, the efficiency of His 
Word. 

You may shine, — of yourselves, exemplifying the Word of 
Life. 






OTE, 1 



13 



7 Faithful is the Word, and worthy of all acceptance, that 
Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Therein we 
have Hope in a living God, who is the Saviour of all men — spe- 
cially of the faithful. 

Faithful. — the Word is reliable and worthy to be received in 
the fullest degree of confidence. 



1. A Word, or Logic, is the expression of a reasonable Idea; 
or, the Idea itself before expression. The Idea may be very sim- 
ple or very profound. The Word expressed in the Life and 
Spirit of Jesus was the Divine Idea. Order, Reason, Logic, in 
accordance with which "all things came into being, which have 
being;" the deliberate, defined Will of God as to what man 
should become through his own creative act; — working out his 
own salvation with fear and trembling; perfecting holiness in the 
fear of God; acquiring Rightness through faithfulness. 

The universe has been created, and is continually operated, 
in accordance with a definite, logical Order, or Plan, founded on 
the one reality, Truth; to be perfected by the one harmonizing 
force. Love. Co-operation with this Order, is the means of Life, 
growing and expanding. Discord, conflict, failure to comply, 
through ignorance, indifference, or willfulness (sin), is Death, — 
that is, losing Life, losing power and peace, because it puts the 
sinner outside of its beneficial working and deprives him of its 
benefits. He is "Lawless" (13), in anarchy, "the sport of 
chance," subject to the destruction which attends disorder. 

The Word, (sometimes "mystery," often "commandment,") 
is the expression of this Order or Plan. Rightness is conduct 
which is strictly in accordance with it. Faithfulness is that earn- 
est co-operation, based on positive confidence, which produces 
Rightness. Love is the motive, the incentive; and Hope is the 
support of the work of Faith. In conscious harmony and active 
co-operation with the Divine Order, is the only peace. 

To arouse consciousness (new birth,) to excite interest, to 
enable sensitive comprehension of this Divine Order (which re- 
sults in inducement to co-operate,) is the object of the Revela- 
tion of God in Christ. To strive with courage and constancy to 
grasp little by little, more and more, this knowledge and power 
and peace, is our human duty and privilege. 

In the material world you may not do all that you would wish 
to do; but in spirit, you may be all that you may will to be. 



14 CHAPTER I 



Saviour of all. — that is, available to all, subject to obedience. 
Heb. 5:9. • . 

8 God's Word energizes in you who are faithful; . . the Word 
of the Cross, which is to u§ who are being saved, a power of 
God; . ^ the Word of salvation, through which you are being 
saved, if you hold fast the Word of the Gospel. 

Energizes.: — ^itself is working and accomplishing. 
The Word of the Cross. — ^the logic, idea conveyed by the 
Cross. See Note 38. 

Hold fast. — ^have in full possession; occupy; keep (2.) 

9 Accept the established and proved Word, which is able to 
save your souls; but become doers of the Word, not hearers only, 
— beguiling yourselves. Having left the elements of the Word of 
Christ, we should go on to perfection. 

Doers, . . hearers.-^ — It is a tragic self-deception to suppose 
that mere belief, mental consent and acceptance, is enough to 
save. No thought, though it were of the noblest, can take the 
place of action; No idea has any permanence until it is made 
a fact. 

Having left the elements. — ^having received the principles of 
God's Idea; we must proceed to realize it in our lives. 

The Parable of the Word. 

10 A sower went out to sow, (The sower sows the Word.) and 
as he sowed, some seeds fell in the beaten road, and the birds 
came and ate them up. (Those who hear the Word of the King- 
dom, and do not keep it, and that which is evil comes and steals 
away that which was sown in the heart.) 

11 Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth, 
and immediately sprang up, and the sun having arisen, they 
were scorched, and were dried up, because they had no root. 
(This is he who hears the Word, and immediately with joy re- 
ceives it ; who has not root in himself but for the time ; and afflic- 
tions, persecutSons, or trial having arisen through the Word, im- 
mediately he is offended, and falls away.) 

Stony. — of rocks, great or small; from same Greek root as 
Peter. See Note to xxx:6. 

Immediately with joy receives it. — who is enthusiastic, but 
for the moment. 



NOTE 2 15 



12 Some fell among the briars, and the briars grew up and 
choked them. (This is he who hears the Word, and the distrac- 
tions of this life, and the pleasures of prosperity, and the lust of 
other things, entering in, choke the Word, and it becomes un- 
fruitful.) 

13 And some fell upon the good ground, and it yielded fruit, 
some one hundred fold, another sixty, another thirty. (This is 
he who in a good and loving heart, hears the Word and keeps it ; 
who indeed brings forth fruit in patience.) 

14 To whoever has (the loving heart, the good will to keep and 
to do,) to him shall be given, and he shall have (Life) abundant- 
ly; but whoever has not (the good will, etc.,) that which he has 
shall be taken from him. 

Whoever has. — see same expression, xxi:13. 

Here are three classes of persons in whom the knowledge of 
the Truth is unfruitful. With the first class, the Word made no 
permanent impression on the mind. They did not keep (2) it 
intelligently. The second class did not guard it affectionately; it 
had no hold in their hard hearts. It was not the object of the 
single, exclusive desire of the third class, because other more 
enticing and treacherous desires distracted them. This is one of 
many suggestions, that Religion (the Love and Life of God — ^in 
man) must be engaged in with the whole mind, and heart, and 
soul, or there is no progress, no success. 



2. A Name represents the purpose and power implied by a 
title, i. e., Father, Saviour, Captain, Word, Way, etc. Laws are 
executed "in the name of the State," i. e., through its power, to 
accomplish its purpose, to establish its Order, to carry out its 
plan of Law, Col. 3:17. — Whatever you do, in word or work, do 
all in the Name of the Lord Jesus. 

"In His Name" has practically the sense of "in his spirit;" 
done in accordance with, or being in harmony with his will, his 
motive, his purpose. 

To keep; to hold fast in mind as the rule of life; to guard 
affectionately; to practice faithfully; in short, to love (actively) 
with the whole mind, heart, soul and strength. 

To abide, dwell; implies perfect intimacy, permanent pres- 
ence, and continuous activity. 






CHAPTER II. 



THE LIFE. 

In the Word was Life. God so loved the world that He gave 
His Only Son, that every one who is faithful to him may not 
perish, but may have eternal Life, He who is faithful to the 
Son has eternal Life. He who is not obedient to the Son shall 
not see Life, but the wrath of God abides upon him. He who 
hears my Word, and is faithful to Him who sent me, has eternal 
Life; has passed out of death into Life. 

Life . . death. — see Notes 3, 4. 

Perish. — is not lost out of life; same word as "lost" in Jn. 
6:12. 

Obedient. — more ^exactly, persuaded; having accepted guid- 
ance, through the influence of his sublime example. 

Has passed . . into Life. — The first resurrection is here and 
now; the ascent into the life which is Life indeed. The percep- 
tion of Truth, the practice of Love, the pursuit of Purity, the 
possession of Peace, all growing richer and more glorious as 
they increase into the Glory of Christ. — ^this is the present and 
eternally continuing Life of God in the spirit of man. 

2 I am the resurrection and the Life. He who is faithful to me, 
though he die (temporarily,) shall Live; and everyone who Lives 
faithful unto me shall not die eternally. I am the Way; the 
Truth and the life. I came that the^ might have Life; and 
might have it abundantly. I am the Bread of Life. He who 
comes to (live in) me, shall not hunger; and he who is faithful 
to me, shall not thirst henceforth. The Words which I speak to 
you are spirit and are Life. 

I am the resurrection. — In my spirit, if my spirit is in you, 
though the body were dead (literally or figuratively,) yet in my 
spirit is Life. — victory over Death. 

I am the Way. — the Truth which he declared, the Life which 
he exemplified; these are the ways of Life. See note v;l. "No 
one can weave Truth and Goodness and Purity and Beauty into 
theirlife without making that life richer and more abundant." 



NOTE 3 17 



3. Life is not mere existence; but the intense, sensitive, joy- 
ful use of all the faculties, especially the spiritual. 

We have each within us the possibilities and means of living 
two separate, distinct lives. One craving individual, sensual sat- 
isfaction; self-willed, animal. (In this sense the Greek word for 
"soul" is 39 times translated "life" in the common English ver- 
sion.) The other, a Divine, spiritual Life, which is not merely 
this life, but that which is worthy to be extended into "the ages 
of the ages." It is the Christ-filled life, lived in harmony with 
the Word, in knowledge of the Truth, Living in Love, desiring 
and working for universal welfare because it is the Will of God. 
(31) The one business of man on earth, and the one source of 
blessedness, . is to subdue and control his natural self -life, and 
throw its energy into the realization of his spiritual Life of God. 
"Not only to keep down the base in man; 
But to have high thoughts and amiable words, 
And love of Truth; — % 
Striving to grow perfect as He is perfect." 

The hope of immortality lies in our living the life of Christ; 
living in him as the branch lives in the vine; absorbing His life, 
and thereby expelling our "self-life;" having been "born again" 
(17) into consciousness of the holy spirit which God has given 
us, and living in conscious exercise of the spirit. Our common 
experience, when it becomes saturated with his life, is glorified 
with delight. 

Christ came not only to reveal and exemplify the God-like 
life, but to conduct mankind into that divine, joyful, eternal ex- 
perience. He not only proved himself willing to endure the con- 
ditions he imposes, but he showed us how, under most cramping 
and contrary conditions, human life may attain to Divinity, and 
achieve a complete triumph. Hence the frequent expression, "in 
Christ," in his Life, because in his spirit. 

By virtue of the spirit of God dwelling in us, we have the 
privilege of living in the Life of God. It is His Will that our life 
should be not merely an occasion of pleasure, but the prepara- 
tion for an eternal existence. This eternal quality we weave 
into it now, or never. 

"The fabric of the life to be, we weave with colors 

all our own; 
And in the field of destiny, we reap what we have 
sown." 

This is the Divine Life; that we may know the Truth; that 
we may love as God loves; be Right as God is Right; pure as 



1 



18 CHAPTER II 



I am the bread. — see Note 8. 

The Words . , are spirit and are Life. — the development of 
spirit (33) and Life (along normal lines of education) is 
through knowledge of the Truth as declared in the Word of 
Truth. 

3 He who has the Son, . . the Author of Life, . . has Life; 
shall be saved in his Life. If the spirit of Christ be in you, 
though the body be dead through sin, yet in the spiirit of Christ 
is Life, through Rightness. If the spirit of Him who raised 
up Jesus from the dead, dwell in. you, Gk)d will bring your dying 
(in sin) bodies to (present) life through 5is spirit which dwells 
in you. The first Adam became a living soul; the last Adam, a 
Life-giving spirit. As "in Adam" all die; so "in Christ" shall all 
be made alive. i 

Shall be saved. — see Salvation through Life, Note 5. 

In the spirit. — and "the spirit in you" have the same mean- 
ing. The holy spirit in us is advising and encouraging us in our 
high endeavor, quickening our spiritual powers, working in us 
with an energizing Grace. 

Through Rightness. — (27) Rightness, conduct according to 
Truth, is the essential quality of Life which gives permanence. 

Living soul. — Some translators read "living animal." If we 
are living only^'in the animal life of Adam, we are doomed to 
eternal death. Only "in Christ" (29) is true Life. 

4 Although we were separated from the Life of God through 
our ignorance, and the insensibility of our hearts, yet, having 
been taught the Truth as it is (shown) in Jesus, God gave us 
repentance unto Life. The spirit of life "in Christ Jesus" sets us 
free from the power of Sin and of Death. Those laying hold of 
the abundance of Grace, and of Rightness, shall reign in Life, 
through Jesus Christ. We are always in our suffering, demon- 
strating the dying of the Lord Jesus; that the Life of Jesus 
might also be exemplified in us. 

Separated, — Strangers, aliens, Philistines. — natural antagon- 
ists. 

Repentance. — re-newal of mind (52;) involving reconciliation 
(23,) and transformation (17.) 

In our suffering. — our painful endeavor to acquire Rightness; 
crucifying (51) the flesh, with the passions and lusts. 

5 The abundance of anyone's life does not come from his mate- 
rial possessions. If you are intent upon entering Life, keep the 



NOTES 3, 4, 5 19 



God is pure. No power of God is impossible to man, if he can 
hold his sense-life in subjection, and establish the freedom of his 
spirit. 

The Divine Life begins in the mind; to know the Truth; 
hence, — "In the Word was Life;" "Man shall live . . in e very- 
Word of God;" "The Words which I speak are spirit and are 
Life." We must have grasped the spiritual Idea of God that the 
spiritual life may be directed to accord with it. Then follows 
Repentance, re-newing of the mind, revision of the intellectual 
interest, of the trend of thought; arousing the imagination of 
the heart. Love supplies the incentive; Faith is the co-operation 
with the Divine Purpose and power ("The Right man Lives in 
Faith;") Hope supplies the encouragement; Rightness is the 
temporary and Eternal Life the final result. 

4. Death is not to cease to exist (for physical death is only 
an incident in an endless existence) but the partial or entire 
paralysis, atrophy, wasting away of the faculties; ceasing to live 
in some degree (43;) inSensibility (19.) Death, both physical 
and moral, "is working in us," We are inevitably dying unless 
we are striving to live.' 

Again, in the active sense, ^'to die" defines the voluntary par- 
alysis of the sinful lusts (50,51,) through the purifying spirit of 
Christ in us. We are "dead" to that which no longer appeals to 
us, or awakens desire. We are "alive" to that which keenly in- 
terests and is ardently desired. Repentance (52) is the com- 
plete change and revision of interests and desires. 

To kill, — is to conquer thoroughly, to silence, to render un- 
conscious, to disable. 

5. As the body can be "saved" from disease, and restored to 
wholeness and health, only by building up the life, the bodily 
vitality; so the spirit, diseased, paralyzed by sin, can be saved, 
made whole, purified, preserved into eternity (56), only by in- 
vigorating the life of the spirit, infusing into it the Life of the 
spirit of Christ, empowering it to throw off the cause of the 
disease. 

"Our lives, discolored with our present woes. 
May still grow white, and smile with happier hours, 
$0 the pure, limpid stream, when foul with stains 
Of rushing torrents and descending rains. 
Works itself clear, and as it runs, refines, 
Till by degrees, the floating mirror shines, 
Reflects each flower that on the border grows, 
And a new heaven in its fair bosom shows." 



20 CHAPTER II 



commandments; which are condensed in this Word; You shall 
love your fellow man as yourself. We know that we have passed 
cut of death into life, because we love the brethren. 

Possessions. — The true Life of man consists not in the abun- 
dance of what he has, but in the value of what he is; his wealth 
of Truth, Rightness, and the disposition to Love; his treasures in 
heaven of Goodness and kindness shown "to the least of these." 
See note to x:l. 

6 Love not the world, nor the things in the world; because all 
that is in the world; the desire of the flesh (sensuality,) and the 
desire of the eye (greed,) and the boasting of prosperity, is not 
of the Father, but of the world. The world is passing away, and 
the lust of it ; but he who does the Will of God abddes forever. 

Love not the world. — Do not center your affection on that 
which you must inevitably lose. "How mad it is to hope for con- 
tentment to our infinite spirits from the gifts of this finite, pass- 
ing, perishing world." 

7 Broad is the gate and luxurious the way that leads to de- 
struction, and they are many who enter through it. Narrow is 
the gate and compressed the way that leads into Life, and they 
are few. who find it. Fortunate is the man who endures trial; 
that, having been approved, he shall receive the crown of Life, 
which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. 

Broad, . . compressed. — see note to v:2. 
Crown. — see note to xxv:3. 

Eternal Life! It rings with the sound of the ArchangeFs 
trumpet, rousing the New Man to his New life. Certainly then; 
"I press toward the mark of the heavenly calling of God. — in 
Christ Jesus;" every sense alert; "fighting the good fight;" 
"keeping the Faith." "Then cometh the end — " 

"Th^. seas shall waste; the skies to smoke decay; 

Rocks fall to dust, and mountains melt away." 

" — and Death shall b^ swallowed up in Victory." 

For whom ? 
"The Lord knoweth them that are His." 
"Let every one who names the Name of Christ de- 
part from unRightness." 

The Ideal Life 

8 God, who called out of darkness the Light which shines in our 
hearts, has caused the radiancy of His glory to shine in the face 



CHAPTER II 21 



of Jesus Christ; and we all, with clear visHon, beholding as if 
reflected in a mirror, the glory of God, are transformed to the 
same likeness, from glory to glory, by the spirit of God; — whose 
purpose and Favour, given us in Christ Jesus before the ages of 
time, is now disclosed by the appearing of our Saviour, who has 
disabled Death, and brought Life and immortality to light. 

9 Those dwelling in Jerusalem and their leaders, because they 
knew him not, nor the voices of the prophets which are made 
known again every Sabbath; (which they fulfilled in condemning 
him;) though they found no fault worthy of death in him, yet 
they required Pilate to put him to death. And when they had 
accomplished all that was written concerning him, they took him 
down from the tree and put him in a tomb. 

10 But God raised him from the dead; and set him at His right 
hand in heaven, above every principality, and authority, and 
power, and lordship, and every Name that is named, not only in 
this age, but also in the? coming one. And put all things under 
his feet, and gave Mm (the head over all things) to the Church, 
which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. 

The fullness.— The Church is filled full by Him who fills all 
existing things with all needful things. 

11 Christ loved the Church, and dedicated himself for it, that 
he might purify it, having cleansed it by baptism in the Word; 
that he might present it to himself a glorified church, not having 
spot or flaw, or any other defect, but that it should be pure and 
without blemish. 

Dedicated. — wholly and irrevocably devoted himself. See 
notes to v:5, xii:8. 

12 Christ's love confines us to this obligation; for we must con- 
clude that if one died for all, it was because all were (spiritual- 
ly) dead; and he died for all; that they which live should not 
hereafter live for their own pleasure, but for his who for them 
died and rose again. God who is rich in mercy, because of His 
great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in 
sins, has brought us to life "in Christ," andVaised us up together, 
into the enjoyment of the heavenly blessings, that, by kindness 
to us who are "in Christ Jesus," He might indicate to the coming 
ages, what is the incomprehensible wealth of His Favour. 

Has brought us to Life . . and raised us up. — "In Christ" 
thero is a present resurrection into a New and heavenly Life. 



CHAPTER III. 



THE BLOOD. 

We, the Church of Christ, which he acquired through his own 
Blood; have liberation through his Blood, — the putting away of 
sins, — through him who loved us, and washed us from our sins 
in his own Blood. If we walk in the Light, as he is in the light, 
we have participation in him, and the Blood of Jesus Christ 
cleanses us from all sin. 

2 Having been made Right in his Blood we shall be made whole 
in his life; whom God set forth, a new and living Way (into His 
presence and favour) through faithfulness in his Blood. 

Blood . . life. — This illustrates how blood and life are sy- 
nonymous terms. See Notes 6, 3. 

3 Behold the days are coming, saith the Lord, when I will rat- 
ify a new covenant ; not of rules to obey, but of spirit in which to 
live, — the spirit of Love. Then I will give my laws into their 
mind; also in their hearts I will inscribe them; and all shall know 
me, from the least to the greatest. , 

Covenant. — a contract. The Old Covenant was to the effect 
that if Israel would literally obey the Law — embodied in the Ten 
Commandments — God would preserve them. The New Covenant 
is one of spiritual communion, of reciprocity of Love; the enjoy- 
ment of the Favours of God in consideration of our faithful love 
of God, and man. j 

Shall know me. — implies both understanding and inttmate 
relations. 

4 The Blood of Christ, who (through the eternal spirit,) offered 
himself spotless to God, will cleanse your moral judgment, that 
you may serve the living God; therefore he is the mediator of 
the New Covenant; — which is in purification of spirit unto obe- 
dience, and consecration in the Blood of Jesits Christ. With the 
Blood of the Covenant you were purified. In the Blood of the 



NOTE 6 23 



eternal Covenant, may God make you perfect in every good work, 
that you may do His will. 

Through the eternal spirit. — His sacrifice was not merely of 
life (blood, 7,) but also the devotion of his timeless spirit; not a 
single act, but a power always available, an influence always 
working. 

Mediator. — one between, a negotiator, a medium of commu- 
nication between two estranged persons, or two parties to an 
agreement. See Note 28. 

Consecration. — Ex. 24:3-8. Moses rehearsed before the peo- 
ple all the Words and Right requirements of God; and all the 
people answered with one voice, -"All the words which the Lord 
has spoken, we will do, and be obedient." . . And Moses took 
half of the blood of the burnt offering and poured it into bowls; 
and half of the blood he poured upon the altar (signifying the 



6. Blood is an intense figure of life, wholly devoted to the 
service of God, or man. To give one's blood; to unconditionally, 
irrevocably, unreservedly devote one's life and faculties to the 
wellfare of another; foregoing all personal gratifications or in- 
terests; undergoing, if necessary to the completion of the sacri- 
fice, death itself, — ^is the supreme declaration of earnestness and 
sincerity of love. "No greater love hath any man than this/' He 
who gives his blood, has given all. 

This supreme act of devotion can have but one worthy object; 
to create a powerful influence, an irresistible attraction; to in- 
duce the beneficiary of this sacrifice to reciprocate this love, and 
to dedicate his life in Faithfulness to Rightness, in Purification 
of spirit, in the service of Love. "I gave my life for thee; what 
hast thou given for me?" "Because he laid down his soul for 
us; we ought to lay down our souls for the brethren." See 
xxiv:4. 

This, is the central Idea in the Sacrament of Communion: "is 
it not a participation in the Blood of Christ?" In the degree 
that we "drink his blood," transferring the virtues of his life 
into ours, we have liberation, purification, spiritual health, and 
all of the heavenly blessings. But to view the Blood as a substi- 
tute for the man's personal devotion, is to do violence to the 
Idea. It is a dangerous human weakness to desire to be relieved 
from obligation. 

**As the branch cannot bear fruit unless it abide in the vine; 
neither can you, unless you abide in me." 



24 CHAPTER III 



offering of the lives and souls of the people for service.) And 
ho took the book of the Covenant, and read it in the ears of the 
people, and they said, "All things whatever the Lord has spoken, 
we will do, and hearken thereto." And Moses took the blood 
and sprinkled it upon the people (signifying consecration to 
service) and said, "Behold the Blood of the Covenant which the 
Lord has covenanted." 

Perfect. — perfectly adjust, unite, knit you together in one 
sacred society, consecrated to service. Eph. 4:7-13. — To each of 
us was given Grace . . for the perfecting of the saints for the 
work of service: for the building of the body (cfiurch) of Christ; 
unto unity of Faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God. 

5 He gave himself because of our sins, that he might deliver us 
out of the present evil age. He bore our sins in his body on the 
tree, that we, having left sin, should live in Rightness. He has 
been declared, through his sacrifice, for the putting away of sin; 
and having been once offered to bear the sins of many, shall 
appear again to those who are striving for salvation. 

Because of our sins. — The existing condition of sin, and the 
ancient sacrifice having lost its^ significance, made his sacrifice 
necessary. Sin is a voluntary activity of man's free will. As 
man's free will cannot be compelled, can only be attracted and 
influenced by Advice and Example, it was necessary, in order to 
remove the condition of sin, to present the Truth and the Life 
(also the Love which inspires the Life) in the most powerfully 
convincing form. "I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men unto 
me." "I have mada known to them Thy Word; Thy Word is 
Truth!" "I have left you an example." Isa. 53:5-11. — He was 
pierced through our rebellions; crushed through our sins; the 
chastisement to win our peace was upon him, and by his stripes 
was healing brought to us. . . When you shall make his soul 
(Blood) an offering for sin, he shall see his sons, and shall live 
again, and God's pleasure shall prosper in his hands. He shall 
see the fruit of the toil of his soul, and shall be satisfied. 
Through his knowledge shall my Right Servant make many 
Right, for he shall take away their sins. . . He worked out the 
problem of redemption, illustrated the conditions, demonstrated 
the method. 

He bore our sins. — (51) He carried them up in his flesh even 
to death. He crucified sin in the flesh in a most conspicuous and 
perfect manner. He exposed its nature and its results. Also he 
"condemned sin in the flesh" and subjected his sinful flesh to his 



f^^?-^i-^'^ '^■''^?^^' 



NOTE 7 25 



7. A sacrifice is an objective declaration, on the part of him 
who offers it, of his purpose of devoting his life to God. Anoth- 
er's sacrifice is only available to us in the degree in which we 
share in it, having the same purpose. 

Every symbolic act has the object of influence; forcible con- 
viction of invisible truth by means of a visible sign. ^ If the con- 
viction is not transformed into conduct; especially if the sym- 
bolic act is supposed to have accomplished a result in itself, its 
purpose has utterly failed. 

The object of the ancient sacrifice of blood is explained by 
Lev. 17:11. Deut. 12:23.— The life of flesh is (in) its blood. The 
blood upon the altar shall make atonement, — will effect renewal 
of union with God, and restoration to His Favour. God has 
given man life on condition that that life shall be devoted to His 
service in Rightness. Sin was a failure to comply with the terms 
of this covenant; it disrupted the union, and deprived the sin- 
ner of all rights and privileges. 

Desiring to renew his covenant relation, he employs the sym- 
bolic act of sacrifice. The object of it is not to create an im- 
pression on the mind of God; but to create an impression on his 
own mind. It is he who must repent, return, be reconciled, — not 
God. He takes the best animal in his flock, the loss of which he 
deplores most of all of his possessions. He gives it up; denies 
himself; deprives himself of it, with the bitter thought, "If I had 
not sinned, the Lamb need not have died." He believes that the 
blood of the lamb on the altar is, in fact, its life. 

That life given, represents his life, which he proposes to give 
henceforth. In that firm determination, his sin is "put away," 
and he is, — while his determination holds — "cleansed from sin" 
by the renewing of his mind." The objective act accomplished 
this subjective change. Because no other method was sufficient- 
ly powerful in its influen)ce to accomplish this effect, "according 
to the Law, all things are cleansed in blood; and without the 
shedding of blood there is no putting away of sin." 

As time went on, the symbolic act lost its significance; it be- 
came perfunctory; a sort of vicarious payment of the demands of 
God, a satisfaction of justice; and the blood was thought to be 
wholly substitutional, not representing, but relieving man from 
further obligation or anxiety. 

Later prophets endeavored to replace it with the moral 
equivalent; 1 Sam. 15:22. — To obey is better than sacrifice, and 
to hearken than the fat of rams. Ps. 51:17. — Sacrifice to God a 
spirit in anguish (remorse;) a heart in anguish and humility 






26 CHAPTER III 



spirit, and demonstrated the Life of Rightness to which all sin- 
ful men may attain. Redemption to us, as to our Great Exam- 
ple, is a way of sorrow, of cross-bearing, self-denial, sacrifice, 
and the shedding of blood. 

Declared. — literally, "shown in light." With the object of 
influencing and inspiring us to abandon, expel, eject, eradicate, 
die to sin and live to Rightness, through the influence and en- 
couragement of his sacrifice, — he was so clearly exhibited in his 
state of humiliation. To those who are striving for salvation 
(waiting for wholeness, healing, — but working while they wait) 
he will be clearly seen again, not in his state of infirmity but in 
his state of glory. 

^6 Become imitators of God, as dear children, and walk in love, 
even as Ch^st likewise loved us and dedicated himself for us; a 
fragrant sacrifice and offering, acceptable, wel^pleasing to God. 
You are designed to be a spiritual priesthood, to offer spiritual 
sacrifices, acceptable to God, through Jesus Christ; to present 
your bodies, a living sacrifice, holy, well-pleasing to God, which 
is your logical service. To do good and to distributte forget not ; 
for with such sacrifice God is well pleased. 

The Sacrament of Life. 

7 The blessed cup which we bless; is it not the participation in 
the Blood of Christ. The Bread which we break; is it not the 
participation in the body of Christ. The Lord Jesus, in the night 
on which he was delivered up, took bread, and having given 
thanks, he broke it and said, "Take, eat. This is my body which 
is being broken for you. Continue to do this, unto renewed re- 
membrance of me." In like manner also the cup, after the din- 
ner, saying, "Drink of it, all of you. This cup is the (symbol of 
the) New Covenant in my Blood, which is poured out for many 
unto taking away of their sins. Continue to do this, as often as 
you drink it, unto renewed remembrance of me. As often as you 
eat this bread and drink this cup, you celebrate the death of the 
Lord, until he comes." - 

Celebrate. — By the frequent repetition of this dramatic act 
you forcibly remind yourselves of the fact and meaning of the 
death of Christ, by which he^ confirmed his Word, perfected his 
Life, and sealed his Covenant of Love. 

Taking away of their sins. — see Note 53. 



P^fJr^^v- 



NOTES 7, 8 27 



God will not despise. Prov. 21:3. — To do Right and be True are 
more pleasing to God than the blood of sacrifices. Micah 6:7, 8. 
— Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten 
thousand rivers of oil? . . He hath showed thee, man, what 
is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do just- 
ly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God. 

Then Christ came,* to be "the Lamb of God, who takes away 
the sin of the world;" who, by his one sacrifice once offered, made 
a sufficient sacrifice for the sins of the world. 

The supreme sacrifice of Christ, his entire dedication of him- 
self which culminated in his crucifixion, must-^lways be under- 
stood in the terms of his own statement; "I, if I be lifted up, will 
draw all men unto me." No other object lesson was able to im- 
press the terrible effects of sin, to create such remorse, such 
realization of the Divine love as would inspire such a determina- 
tion to be worthy of it as would transform (17) the lives of men. 

We benefit by the sacrifice of Christ as we reproduce it; as 
we become "conformed to his death;" crucifying the flesh, with 
the passions and lusts; dying to sin; rising to the life of Right- 
ness. "He died because of our sins, and rose that we might be 
made Right." Burnt offerings for sin Thou didst not delight in. 
Then I said, "Lo, I come . . to do Thy Will, O God;"— in which 
will we are made holy. 

8. As bread and wine become by digestion part of the body 
and blood, and a means of nourishment, and consequently of life 
(also, forcing out that which is decayed and defiles;) so the Body 
and Blood of Christ, his visible life and invisible motive (33;) 
his inward being and outward doing must replace our selfish, sin- 
ful, life and will. 

Bread is yet a common term for nourishment in general. Our 
bodies are marvelously built up from the bread which we eat. 
But we have not only our bodies to nourish. We have an immor- 
tal character to re-create; a personality to make holy by the 
practice of Rightness, practiced until it becomes a habit; a spirit 
to make worthy of eternal life, feeding it with Truth; digesting 
and assimilating the life of Christ; making his life an increasing 
part of ours; gradually absorbing and replacing our selfish, sen- 
sual desire with his spirit; "transplanting, one by one, into our 
lives, his bright perfections, till we shine like him." "We should 
feed upon these truths, like insects on a leaf, until the whole 
character Js colored by their qualities, and shows the nature of 
its food in each remotest fiber." 



28 CHAPTER III 



Spiritual Nourishment. 

8 Give us today the necessary bread. Man shall Live, not upon 
bread alone, but in every Word eoming from the mouth of God. 
They are blessed who are hungerilng and thirsting for Rightness; 
for they shall be satisfied. 

Necessary bread. — (8) or, continually-on-coming bread. 

Man shall live. — will cause himself to live. As man lives in 
the air (and the fish in the w^ater,) by his own act drawing life 
from its qualities, and dies (kills himself) in the water; so the 
spirit of man Lives in the Idea (1) and Order of God. 

9 Be not distracted in your souls as to what you shall eat, and 
what you shall drink. Is not the soul more than food? But seek 
first the Kingdom of (rod and His Rightness; and all these things 
shaU be provided for you. 

Distracted. — divided in purpose, disorganized and demoraliz- 
ed in will. See xxiv:2. 

Seek first the Kingdom. — In the perfect harmony of the 
established Kingdom every need will be abundantly satisfied. 
See note to xx:2. 

10 If you knew the liberality of God, you would ask of me 
water of life. Whoever will drink of the water I may give him, 
shall not thirst forever. This water shall become in him a leap- 
ing fountain of water unto life eternal. 

Water of Life. — the refreshment which is an eternal experi- 
ence. 

Leaping fountain. — suggesting both freshness and abun- 
dance. 

11 You are to work, not for the perishing food, but rather for 
the food which nourishes for life eternal, which the Son of man 
gives you; for the Father has endorsed his power to give. The 
Bread of Life is he who came down from heaven and gives Life 
to the world. I am the Bread of Life. He who comes to (live in) 
me, shall not hunger, and he who is faithful unto me, shall not 
thirst at any time. 

Has endorsed. — in the miracle of the feeding of the five thou- 
sand which had just taken place. 

Who comes to me. — to receive nourishment in my Word and 
spirit. 

Shall not thirst. — all highest aspirations gratified. 



CHAPTER III 29 



12 I am the living Bread. The bread which I may give is my 
flesh, which I may give for the life of the world. Unless you 
shall eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his Blood, you 
have not Life in you. Who is nourished in my flesh, and drinks 
my Blood, has Life eternal, and I may raise him up in the last 
Day. For my flesh is true food, and my Blood is true drink. 
Who eats my flesh and drinks my Blood abides in me, and I in 
him. As the Living Father sent me, and I live through the 
Father; likewise he who is nourished in me, shall Live through 
me. 

Flesh . . blood. — The Word of God (made flesh) as exempli- 
fied in the Life and spirit of Christ. 

Nourished in me. — who assimilates into his being all the vir- 
tue that is in me, — shall cause himself to live. 

Abides. — equivalent to "lives,'' with quality of permanence. 

13 Does this Word cause you to stumble? It is the spirit 
which makes alive; the flesh profits nothing. The Words which 
I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. 

Spirit which makes alive. — Rom. 8:11. If the spirit of Him 
who raised Christ from the dead, dwells in you, He . . will also 
make alive your dead (in sin) bodies by means of His spirit 
dwelling in you. 1 Cor. 15:22. — In Christ (29) all shall be made 
alive. 2 Cor. 3:6. — The spirit makes alive. 

Profits nothing. — cannot help in acquiring Life. If your de- 
sire (soul) and work are centered in the life of the flesh (35), 
acquiring good things (xxiv:10,) living sumptuously (xxiv:12,) 
you have no profit of an enduring character; but if your whole 
soul and effort is for spiritual life (and knowledge of that Life 
is in the Word,) you gain an eternal existence. 

14 Being nourished with the Words of the Faith, you will be a 
good servant of Jesus Christ. My food is that I do the Will of 
Him who sent me, and that I finish His work. 

15 Our fathers (in the wilderness) all ate of the same spiritual 
food, and all drank of the same spiritual drink; for they drank 
from a spiritual, following (yet to come) rock; and the rock was 
Christ. 

16 To him that overcometh, I will give to eat of the Tree of 
Life which is in the midst of the garden of God. He who thirsts, 
let him come; and he who wills, let him take of the water of Life 
freely. 



CHAPTER IV. 



THE LIGHT. 

In the Word . . was Light; the Light of Truth, which en- 
lightens every man. I am the Light of the world. Who follows 
me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the Light of Life. 
If anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the Light is 
not in him. Walk in the Light, and be faithful to the Light, that 
darkness may not overtake you. This is the judgment of the 
world, — ^that the Light has come, and men loved darkness more 
than light, because their works were evil. We should cast off 
the works of darkness, and invest in the armor of Light. 

The Light.— see Note 9. 

That darkness may not overtake you. — "The beginning of a 
man's doom is that vision is withdrawn from him; that he sees 
not the reality but a false semblance of the reality, and, follow- 
ing that, stepping darkly, with more and more velocity, down^ 
ward to the utter Dark; to ruin, which is the great sea of Dark- 
ness, whither all falsehoods, winding or direct, continually f ow." 

The judgment of the world. — by this criterion all are judged. 
"This is ever the damning sin; to be in the presence of Goodness 
and Perfection, and not to love it; to recognize the beauty of 
holiness, and yet to turn away to practices wh^ch defile." 

Armor of Light. — The knowledge of the Truth is our protec- 
tion against error and Evil. 

2 He who says that he is in the Light, yet hates his brother 
(man), is still in darkness. He who loves his brother lives in the 
Light, God is light. If we say that we have fellowship with 
Him, yet walk in darkness, we lie, and do not practice the Truth. 
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellow- 
ship with him, and the Blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from 
every sin. 

Fellowship. — joint participation. As his Light becomes our 
Light, his Life our Life, his Blood (6) our Blood, the defilement 
and decay of sin is washed away. 



NOTE 9 31 



9. Light is intellectual and spiritual vision, to know the 
Truth, to see the Way, to live the Life, to do the Will. It is op- 
posed to the darkness and night of ignorance and error, delu- 
sion and fear; not outward, but inward night. 
"How many among us at this hour 
Do forge a life-long trouble for ourselves, 
By taking ill for good, and false for true." 
There are two sources of Light; the knowledge of the Truth 
disclosed in the Word; and the Advice (12) of the Spirit, — that 
personal consciousness of Truth which we call 

Consdence. 

There is a power in the individual spirit, a Sense, subject to 
development, to recognize Truth, ever more clearly and fully; a 
sensitive and delicate influence constantly suggesting a higher 
and better life. It is "the spirit of Truth, leading into all 
Truth," suggesting ever higher Ideals as each Ideal is attained. 
It is both guide and power. Adviser and Helper. 

"The love of Truth is inherent in the normal human soul, and 
its recognition of Truth is instinctive, and accompanied by pleas- 
ure and satisfaction." Listening to its voice, it ever grows 
louder; obedient to its will, it will ever become more plain as we 
center interest and attention upon it. Loyalty to the Truth 
brings Light. Loyalty to Love brings power. 

"We have each a God-given vision, which ever haunts us, of a 
purer and more perfect Order of life." "In this day and in all 
days, around and in every man, are voices from God, imperative 
to all if obeyed even by none, which say audibly, ^Arise, thou son 
of Adam, son of Time; make this thing more divine, and that 
thing, and thyself of all things; and work and sleep not, for ths 
night Cometh when no man can work!' He that hath an ear 
may still hear." 

"Oh, Conscience, Conscience, man's most faithful 

friend. 
How canst thou comfort, ease, relieve, defend; 
But, if he will thy friendly checks forego. 
Thou art. Oh! woe for him, his deadliest foe!" 
■''Yet still there whispers the small voice within, 
Heard through gain's silence, and o'er glory's din; 
Whatever creed be taught, or land be trod, 
Man's conscience is the oracle of God." 



^^ 



32 CHAPTER IV 



3 Give thanks to the Father who has made you competent to 
share in the Light; praying that God may give'' you a spirit of 
wisdom, revealing the knowledge of Him; the eyes of your mind 
b^ing enlightened, that you may know what is the Hope of His 
invitation, and the glorious riches of His" endowment of the 
saints; that you may become Sons of Light; that you may be 
filled with the knowledge of His Will, in all spiritual under- 
standing and wisdom, to walk worthily of God's Favour, pleasing 
Him fully, frjiitful in every good work, and growing into the 
Knowledge of God. 

Revealing the knowledge of him. — that he mary give you full 
knowledge of Himself and of His Will; that is, insight, vision. 

Hope. — see Note 26. 

Spiritual understanding. — in two _ senses; understanding of 
the nature of spirit (22;) and keener spiritual sense. 

• 

4 You are the Light of the world. A city on a mountain can- 
not be hid. Neither do they light a lamp and put it under a bas- 
ket, but on the shelf, that it may shine for all that are in the 
house. So let your Light shine before men, that they may see 
your good works, and glorify your Father. 

Let your Light shine. — "Have Light in yourselves! Once 
well established, how it will radiate outward, irrepressibly, into 
all speech and word, into all with whom we come in contact, ever 
kindling new light by incalculablo contagion, spreading in geo- 
metric ratio, far and wide, doing good wherever it spreads, and 
not evil." 

That they may see. — comprehensively, understanding the 
motive. 

5 Do your dut^, without complaint or objection, that you may 
be faultless and true Children of God, unblamable in the midst 
of a crooked and morally twisted generation, among whom you 
shine as great lights in the world, holding forth the Word of 
Life. 

6 God, who called out of darkness the Light which shines in our 
hearts, has caused the radiancy of the glory of God to shine in 
the face of Jesus Christ ; and we all, Vith clear vision, beholding 
as reflected in a mirror, the glory of God, are transformed into 
the same likeness, from glory to glory, by the spirit of Gk)d. 

Likeness. — image. See Note 17. 



NOTE 9 33 



The Parable of Light, 

7 The lamp of the body is the eye. If, therefore, your eye be 
sinj^le, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is 
evil, your whole body will be darkened. If, therefore, the Hght 
that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness? 

The eye. — figuratively for the faculty of intellectual and 
spiritual comprehension to regulate and direct our purposes and 
actions. "The eyes of your mind being enlightened that you 
may know . ." (see verse 3.) "The pure in heart shall see . ." 
"Eye hath not seen . . but the spirit reveals . ." "He who does 
the Will of God shall know . ." Riches of imagination (20) de- 
pend on fullness and accuracy of perception. It is not enough 
that the Truth should be; there must be a sound, unprejudiced, 
undefiled faculty to see Truth. "The purer the eye of the inten- 
tion is, with so much the more constancy doth a man pass 
through the trial of delusion and distracting temptation." 

Single. — clear Sense, direct vision, undistracted, ^fixed on the 
Light, unclouded by passion or prejudice. 2 Cor. 11:3. — ^I fear, 
lest by any means, as the serpent in his craftiness deceived Eve, 

"The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord." By this faculty 
and by the divine Light which enlightens every man, life must be 
adjusted to Truth. Prejudice miist be denied, and pride, social 
and intellectual. 

Training is necessary to perceive "the still small voice of 
God" speaking in the spirit, amid the distracting voices of the 
world and the flesh. The first requisite is a controlling purpose 
to please God. As the receiver of the wireless telegraph is tuned 
to receive only vibrations of a certain class, rejecting all others, 
we must establish the disposition to do His Will, to conform to 
His Idea and Order. Then there must be habitual and devout 
meditation on the Word of Truth,. by which the judgment is in- 
formed and directed. 

"The intuition of what is better is the clue to the full knowl- 
edge of the Best." This- Sense is sympathetic; you must love 
before you can see or Feel. Purity of Love is essential; the pure 
in heart shall see God. 

"So near is Goodness to our dust; 
So near is God to man; 
When Duty whispers low. You must! 
The soul replies, I can." 



34 CHAPTER V 



so your thoughts might be corrupted from the simplicity t sin- 
gleness) which is in Christ. Eph. 6:5. — in singleness of heart. — 
Col. 3:22. Also, liberal, freely giving what is good. — Jas. 1:5. 

Evil. — defiled, lustful (1 Jn. 2:16.,) deceiving the moral judg- 
ment. Mt. 5:29. — If your right eye causes you to stumble <mor- 
ally), tear it out*. 2 Pet. 2:14.— eyes full of adultery. Mt. 20:15. 
— Is your eye evil? (Have you received a clouded and confused 
idea of Right through an imperfect medium?) Mk. 7:22. — an 
evil eye. 1 Jn. 2:11. — He who hates his brother, . . the darkness 
blinded his eyes. 

CHAPTER V. 



THE WAY. 

The rising sun has visited us, to shine upon those sitting in 
darkness and in the' shadow of Death, to direct our feet into the 
Way of Peace; . . a new and living Way, by the Blood of Jesus. 

1 am the Way; the Truth and the Life; and no one comes to the 
Father unless through me. * 

The sun. — of Rightness. Mai. 4:2. — For you who fear my 
Name shall the Sun of Rightness arise. 

The Way.— see Note 10. Blood (6.) 

The Way of Peace. — through renovation (52) of mind and 
removal (53) of sin. 

I am the Way. — because I am the Truth and the Life exem- 
plified; the theory and the practice illustrated. Human weak- 
ness requires illustrations, an example; not only the Truth, but 
a Life. .' .: M i^fM 

2 Wide is the way that leads unto destruction; compressed is 
the Way that leads into Life . . :the Way of Rightness. Better 
were it not to have known the Way of Rightness, than having 
known it, to have turned from the holy commandment. 

Wide. — luxurious, of self-indulgence. 

"War destroys man, but luxury mankind; 

It ruins both the body and the mind." 
The way of self-indulgence is the way to both physical and 
spiritual ruin. 

Compressed. — of self-denial, self-control. 

"Self-knowledge, self -reverence, self-control; 

These alone lead life to sovereign power." 



NOTE 10 35 



10. The Way into the knowledge of the Truth of God's Will; 
into the practice of His Word, in which we must walk to please 
Him; into the glory which shall be revealed; — hence the fre- 
quent expression, "through Jesus Christ;" he is the Way. 

He is the Way in that he is the Divine Example (vs. 5.) 
Tempted (tried, 42.)- in every way as we are, he suffered for us, 
— to bring us to God. How do we avail ourselves of his suffer- 
ing? Through sympathy. He suffered because of my sins. If 
I had not sinned, he need not, at least for me, have died. He 
must convince me, as only a Divine Being could, of the Divine 
pain of outraged love, of ignored help, of crucified Truth, which 
my sin causes; of the inevitable end of sin, which is present and 
eternal Deatii; and especially, of the Way Out; — how sin may be 
crucified in the flesh, giving the spirit Life; how, dying to sin, 
we may rise with him to the Life of Rightness through his spirit 
dwelling in us; how^ as Children of God, we may share in the 
glory of the Son of God. Contemplating the Lord's passion, his 
suffering in mind and affections, the same moral pain is commu- 
nicated to us; we feel the pang of Conscieijce, which produces 
conviction, remorse, repentance, reform, and ultimately trans- 
formation (17.) So, "the Love of Christ constrains us." 

He appeals also, to our intelligence through his Infinite Per- 
fections; to our sense of gratitude, ("If God so loved us, we 
ought to love one another,") to our ambition to have and to be 
that w^hich is Best, most desirable, most valuable and enjoyable. 
Especially he appeals to our inherent desire for immortality. "If 
Christ be in you, . . the spirit of Christ is a means and power of 
Life." He is the shepherd who leads, the magnet which draws, 
the Ideal which invites to greater personal excellence. But in 
his suffering is the tremendous attraction of his life. 

That which he is, he inspires man to become. This is the sole 
test of Christianity; Are we becoming like him? Have we his 
spirit, his motive ? Are we growing into his Life, mentally, Sen- 
sitively, Lovingly, above all, spiritually; acquiring his power 
over the world, the flesh, and the devil; having his calmness, his 
serenity, his peace? 

To walk. — to be exclusively interested and earnestly active in 
any pursuit; also, the methodical performance of any duty. 



36 CHAPTER 



Walking in the Way. 

3 He who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have 
the Light of Life. If we walk in the Light as he is in the Light, 
we have fellowship with him. He who does not take his cross 
and follow me, is not worthy of me. Walk worthy of the Lord, 
who invited you into his own kingdom and glory, pleasing him 
fully; fruitful in every good work. Take heed to walk accurate- 
ly, understanding what the Will of the Lord is. Walk as chil- 
dren of the Light, demonstrating what is well-pleasing to the 
Lord. 

Follows. — penetrating with him into the mysterious regions 
of spiritual knowledge of the Truth; climbing to the heights of 
spiritual attainment of the heavenly blessings of Life eternal. 
"Thou wilt show me the path of Life; in Thy presence is fullness 
of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures forever more." 

Fellowship. — partnership, joint-participation. See note to 
iv:3. 

Take up his cross. — see Note 38. 

Worthy. — of His Favour, and of reception into His eternal 
Kingdom. 

Understanding. — see notes to vii:4. 

4 We were buried with Christ (by baptism) unto the death (of 
the lusts of the flesh), that as he was raised from the dead, we 
should likewise walk in a New Life. There is no condemnation 
to those who walk in the living spirit of Christ Jesus. Walk in 
the spirit, and do not indulge the lusts of the flesh. If Life lis in 
spirit, in spirit we should walk strictly. As you received Christ 
Jesus the Lord, walk in him, having been rooted and built up in 
him. 

We were buried. — literally, in a grave; indicating that some- 
thing decayed was left behind. Col. 2:12.— having been buried 
with him in baptism, in which also you were raised with him. 
Baptism is a symbol and forcible suggestion of that death to sin 
(50) and entrance into a New Life of Rightness which must be 
the experience of all who are "in Christ." 

We should likewise walk. — ^we should be now walking (10,) 
not only like him in manner, but like him at the present time liv- 
ing in the New Life. 

Lusts of the flesh. — the cravings of your animal appetites 
(35.) Your will is the field of a continual conflict between the 
spirit and the flesh, each striving for control of the life. 



^"': 



CHAPTER V 37 



Walk in him. — in his Way; living and growing in his Life, as 
the branch lives and grows in the vine, in which it is held firmly, 
and from which it draws nourishment (8) for its growth. 

5 Whoever would be foremost among you, let him be servant 
of all, even as the Son of man came not to be served, but to 
serve, and to give his .soul for the deliverance of many souls. 
You call me teacher and Lord; and you are right, for I am. If I, 
then, the teacher and master, washed your feet, you ought to do 
likewise. For I gave you a pattern that you should do as I have 
done. A slave is not greater than his master, nor an apostle 
than him who sent him. If you comprehend this, blessed are you 
if you practice it. 

Foremost. — first, most important and most honored. 

To give his soul. — (37) to sacrifice his ease, comfort, the sat- 
isfactions of life and its cherished ambitions, to devote his fac- 
ulties to setting free many souls that are in slavery to sin; 
"wherefore God highly honored and Favoured him." 

Washed your feet. — signifying the extremity of humble 
service. •• 

Is not greater. — ^has no cause to be more proud. 

6 Become imitators of Grod, as dear children; walk in love, even 
as Christ loved us and gave himiself for us. I lay down my soul 
for the sheep. My sheep hear my voice, and they follow me, and 
I give them eternal life. You were straying sheep; but are now 
returned to the Shepherd and care-taker of your souls. 

I lay down my soul. — I forego, renounce the pleasures of life, 
putting the faculties by which I would have pursued those pleas- 
ures at the service of my followers. 

7 Christ suffered for us, leaving us an example, that we should 
walk with him in his Way; who did no sin, neither was deceit 
found in his mouth; who, being reviled, reviled not in return; 
suffering, he threatened not; but submitted his cause unto Him 
who judges Right. He bore our sins in his body on the tree, to 
the end that we should become separate frohi sin and aUve to 
Rightness. 

Suffered for us. — the sense of this verse is amplified in Note 
10. 

He bore our sins in his bodyl — being made in our "flesh of 
sin,'' he crucified it. See note to iii:5. 

Alive to Rightness. — Sensitive to Rightness to the extent of 
living in it strictly. 



38 CHAPTER VI 



8 "In Christ Jesus" we are created to perform Good Works, 
which God before prepared that we should walk in them. Pur- 
sue the things of peace, and the things that build up one an- 
other. Pursue good, toward one another and toward all. Turn 
away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue after it. 
Who practices good is of God; but who practices evil has not 
known God, Pursue peace with all, and that purification with- 
out which no one shall see the Lord. 

Good works. — see Chap. VIII. 

9 Remember your leaders, who declare to you the Word of 
God; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their 
Faith. Become imitators of those who through faith and long 
patience inherit the promises. Be a good servant of Jesus 
Christ; being nourished in the Words of the Faith, and of the 
Good Teaching; Right before God; walking blameless in all the 
commandments and Right requirements of the Lord; walking 
uprightly according to the Truth of the Gospel. Pursue Right- 
ness, reverence, faith, love, endurance in triial, gentleness; strive 
earnestly in the good contest of the Faith; lay hold of eternal 
life; keep the commandments, spotless, irreproachable. 

Considering the result. — "Nature and Heaven command you, 
at your peril, to discern worth in everything, and most of all, in 
man." , 



CHAPTER VI, 



THE TRUTH. 

The Word became flesh; full of Grace and Truth; the Way of 
God in Truth. I am the Way; the Truth and the Life. For this 
was I born, and for this I have come into the world, — that I may 
bear witness to the Truth. Every one who is of the Truth hears 
my voice. 

I am the Way; . . Truth. — See Note 11 and note to v:l. "It 
is not any abstract philosophic truth which is the source of hu- 
man progress, but truth made real in the life of Jesus; truth 
become a part of human experience; truth shown to be possible 
by one great example. This is the difference between speculative 



NOTES 11, 12 39 



11. Truth is the foundation, the law, the imperative condi- 
tion of individual or social well-being. To know the Truth, to 
stand confidently upon it, to be sure, is a satisfaction beside 
which no other is comparable. Every wrong in the universe is 
a departing from the Truth. 

Underlying every condition and every relation, with God, 
with things animate or inanimate, is "the fixt arithmic of the 
univers," the positive reality which is Truth; the only solid 
ground in the world of conflict, doubt and danger. To act in 
harmony with the Truth is to employ the Infinite Power by 
which the universe is created and preserved, leading to the pos- 
session of every benefit, and the enjoyment of every desirable 
condition. Strict compliance with Truth is Rightness. The earn- 
est desire and effort that "Truth may prevail and every moral 
and social virtue cement us," is Love. 

Every act not in harmony with Truth, whether through ig- 
norance or contempt of the Divine Order, is discord, "lawless- 
ness" (13,) sin (43,) virtual antagonism, and results in loss of 
Life and power in proportion to its extent and character. 

It is loss of Light. "Ere long, by the appointed curse of 
Heaven, a man's intellect ceases to be capable of distinguishing 
Truth, when he permits himself to deal in speaking or acting 
what is false." 

Failure to co-operate with Truth in any degree is Sin, and 
reacts on the sinner. "In any real and large sense, we are inca- 
pable of living and acting except in Truth. Leaving that, we 
leave our natural element; nothing is reliable; the ground slips 
under our feet; all things disconcert us. While the humblest in- 
tellect feels at home in Truth, and can readily foretell the conse- 
quences of every Right act; the most profound and penetrating 
mind loses its way hopelessly in the condition of Falsity, and can 
form no conception of the results that may ensue." 

There is a power in the individual spirit, subject to develop- 
ment, to recognize Truth, ever more clearly and fully, — to par- 
ticipate in the Holy Spirit, which is the spirit of Truth. See 
fully in Note 9. 

12. A Paraclete is ofie who "speaks beside," to instruct and 
support. He is "one who strengthens on the one hand, and de- 
fends on the other." An advocate, a helper; but especially an 
adviser. 



40 CHAPTER VI 



truth, which only moves the reason, and living truth, which 
awakens the whole life." 

To bear witness. — to declare and to illustrate, by Word and 
example. 

Who is of the Truth. — an earnest seeker and devoted fol- 
lower; recognizing it to be the Rule of God, and earnest to estab- 
lish it as the universal rule. "Born of the Word of Truth." — 
see i:l. 

2 The Father will send you an Adviser, the spirit of Truth, 
which will guide you into all Truth. Having been faithful to the 
Word of the Truth of the Gospel of your salvation, you were 
sealed with the promised holy spirit. (The fruit of the spirit is 
all Goodness, and Rightness, and Truth.) 

Adviser. — see Note 12. 

Sealed. — your eventual salvation guaranteed by the posses- 
sion of his holy spirit (33.) 

3 God is Spirit; and those who worship Him must worship in 
spirit and in Truth. If you abide in my Word, you shall know 
the Truth, and the Truth shall make you free. He who practices 
the Truth comes to the Light, that his works may be shown to 
have been worked in accordance with God's Will. 

Worship in spirit. — not by practice of formalities, but by liv- 
ing in His spirit of Truth and Love. See note to xxii:l. 

If you abide in my Word. — if you are constantly becoming 
more familiar with my message, and affectionately and faith- 
fully practicing it, that practice will deliver you from error and 
from the evils which follow every departure from the Truth, and 
from slavery to the habits which result. 

Practices the Truth. — see iv:2. 

4 The wrath of God is declared from heaven upon all irrever- 
ence and unRightness of men who have the Truth and abuse it; 
who change the Truth of God into falsehood; who disobey the 
Truth, and delight in unRightness. They shall perish, because 
they did not love the Truth that they might be saved. If we will- 
ingly sin, after receiving the knowledge of the Truth; there re- 
mains no more a sacrifice for sin, but' an awful expectation of 
judgment. 

After receiving the knowledge of the Truth. — Christ, en- 
gaged in his supreme sacrifice, invokes the mercy of God upon a 
single class; — ^those who "know not what they do." 



CHAPTER VII ' 41 



5 Purify them in th^ Truth: Thy Word is Truth! God chose 
you from the be^nniing, for salvation, in Purification of spirit 
and faithfulness to Truth; to which He invited you through the 
Gospel, that you might acquire the glory of our Lord Jesus 
Christ. Gk)d desires that all men should come to a knowledge of 
the Truth, that they may be saved. Having purified your souls 
in obedience to the Truth, through the spirit, unto sincere broth- 
erly love; out of a clean heart, love one another earnestly. Grace, 
Mercy and Peace shall be with those who are living in Truth and 
Love, 

Having purified your souls. — your desire and object of inter- 
est. Notice that verses 5 and 6 are parallel statements to Note 
17. See Old Man (44.) 

6 We commend the Truth of the Gospel to the moral judgment 
of every man before God; that you should have thrown off the 
Old Man of the former conduct, decayed by deceptive lusts; and 
that, being renewed in the spirit of your mind, you should have 
invested in the New Man, which is created according to God's 
pleasure, — ^in Rightness and Holiness, of Truth. 



CHAPTER VII. 



HIS WILL. 

Thy Will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Not every one 
who says to me, "Lord! Lord!" shall enter the Kingdom; but 
those who practice the Will of my Father who is in heaven. 
Many will say to me in That Day, "Lord, Lord; did we not preach 
in Thy name, and heal, and do many mighty works?" And then 
I will tell them plainly, "At no time did I recognize you (as* lov- 
ing me and my Will.) Depart from me, you workers of lawless- 
ness." This people honor me with their lips; but their heart is 
far from me. The foundation of God stands firm, having this 
seal: The Lord knows them that are His; and. Let everyone who 
names the Name of Christ, depart from unRightness. 



42 CHAPTER VII 



Thy Will.— (13) The Kingdom (31) of heaven (32) is com- 
posed of those who do God's Will; who are living in Love, in har- 
mony and co-operation with the Divine Order. 

Lawlessness. — self-will (13). 

Their heart. — "they do not love me." See Note 20. 

Seal. — guaranty; "If anyone love God, he is known by Him." 

2 This commandment we have from God: — he who loves God, 
must love his brother (man) equally. You shall love the Lord 
your God in all your heart, and in all your soul, and in all your* 
mind; this is the first and great commandment. The second is 
identical with it : You shall love your fellow man, as yourself. I 
give you a new commandment; that you shall love one another 
even as I have loved you. If you love me; keep my command- 
ments. He who knows my commandments and keeps them; he it 
is who loves me; and my Father will love him; and I will show 
myself to him. * 

In all your heart, etc. — see note to xv:l. 

As I have loved you. — see note to xii:9. 

Keep. — see^ definition in Note 2. 

Knows.- — is intimately familiar with, not only the letter but 
the spirit. 

I will show myself. — clearly reveal to him my love, and my 
power in those who love me. 

3 Every commandment is summed up in this Word: You shall 
love your fellow man as yourself. The law is complete in Love. 
Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. He 
who says, "I know Him;" and is not keeping His commandments, 
is a liar, and the Truth is not in him ; but whoever shall keep His 
Word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. Go, teach all 
people to keep all things which I have commanded you. 

Perfected. — advanced to final completeness; finished. (Jn. 
19:30.) 

4 Be transformed by the making new of your mind, that you 
may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect Will of 
God*; that you may know His Will, and comprehend the Right; 
that you may approve the things which are more excellent. Be 
not stupid, but understanding what the Will of the Lord is. 

The making new of your minds. — repentance (52.) 
Prove, . .. approve. — discriminate and define, on a basis of 
knowledge and experience. This is the duty of loving God "in all 






NOTE 13 43 



your mind;" to know His Will, to comprehend the Right, to ap- 
prove the Life which is more excellent, — in short, to think. It is 
the devotion of our intellectual faculties to God's service. 

"So few think; not one in a thousand has the smallest turn 
for thinking; only for passive dreaming and hearsaying, and 
active babbling by rote." "Prejudice, which they pretend to 
hate, is their absolute lawgiver; mere use-and-wont everywhere 
leads them by the nose." "In the winking twilight of indecision 
the tempter comes." All knowledge, all discipline (which is for 
the digestion of knowledge,) all wisdom (which is skill in using 
knowledge,) has this object, — the development of power, fuller 
possession of the Best Things, the Higher Life. 

5 I am praying that you may be filled with full knowledge of 
His Will, in wisdom and spiritual unders:tanding. If anyone wills 
to practice His Will, he will know whether my teaching is from 
God. That servant who knew the Will of his Master, and pre- 

13. God's Will is His purpose and plan, which our free will 
and conduct should comply with; not His determination, but His 
earnest desire. 

God desires obedience, co-operative interest in His great 
work of harmonizing the world, by Love, into the Kingdom of 
heaven. He desires, not the perfunctory compliance growing out 
of fear of punishment, but the spontaneous obedience inspired 
by love; not mechanical performance of human regulations (14,) 
but that we should enter wholly, with love, thought and desire, 
into His spirit and purpose; having the Good Will, the earnest 
determination to possess the Truth and to Love, to pursue the 
highest Ideals of Invisible Excellence (xxv:5.) 

The only liberty, the only security, is in obedience to Law, the 
universal Order. The laws are not limitations of liberty, but the 
best way to secure it; they are endowments in power, regulations 
for the common good. Lawlessness, anarchy, indulgence in self- 
will, is a kind of slavery, — to disorder, disorganization, chaos, 
demoralization, deterioration, decay, to weakness and fear. The 
lawless man is the slave of passion, the tool of appetite, the 
sport of chance. Isolated from the Divine Order we are exposed 
to every kind of evil; identified with it, we enjoy its protection, 
we participate in its eternal nature, in its resistless force. "As 
lawlessness increases, the love of many grows cold." "Unless 
Thy Law had been my delight, I should have perished in my 
afflictions." 



44 CHAPTER VII 



pared not nor practiced toward the doiug of his Will, shall be 
severely punished. From every one to whom much was given, 
much will he required. 

Spiritual understanding:. — to know all that belongs to the 
Life of the spirit, and God's will with regard to it. 

6 If any one reverences God and does His Will, God hears him; 
and this is the boldness that we have toward Him ; that if we 
shall ask anything which is according to His Will, He hears us. 
Whatsoever we may ask, we receive from Him, if we keep His 
commandments and practice pleasing Him. And this is Ms com.- 
mandment,— -that we should be faithful to the service of His Son 
Jesus Christ, and should love one another. He who keeps His 
commandments abides in God, and God in him. In this we know 
that He abides in us; — from the spirit which He gave us. 

Keeps . . abides. — see Note 2. God abides in us in spirit,, if 
we abide in His Will. 

7 Whoever shall do the Will of my Father, he is my brother, my 
sister, my mother; He having planned that we should become 
Sons, according to the good pleasure of His Will. 

Sons. — see Children of God, Chap. XIII. 

8 May God perfect you in every good work, to do His Will; that 
you may stand perfect and complete in the whole Will of God; 
and this is the (end of the) Will of God, — your Purity. 

9 You have need of endurance, that having done the Will of 
God, you may receive the promised reward. The World is pass- 
ing away, and the lusts of it ; but he who practices the Will of 
God abides forever. 

10 If it is your will to enter into Life keep the commandments. 
Blessed are they who work His Commandments; that sh»ll be 
their authority to the Tree of Life, and that they may go 
through the gates into the City. 

The Parable of the Will. 

11 A man had two children; and having come to the first, he 
said, "Child, go work today in my vineyard." And he replied, "I 
will not;" but afterward he regretted his words and went. Hav- 
ing come to the second, he said likewise. And he replied, "I go, 
sir,"— but went not. Which of the two did the Will of the 
Father? 



CHAPTER VIII. 



GOOD WORKS. 

We must work the works of Him who sent us, while it is day ; 
for the night is coming", when no one can work. While I may be 
in the world, I am the Light of the world. He who practices the 
Truth, comes to the Light, that his works may be shown to have 
been worked according to God's Will. 

While it is day. — while we have the Light of Life, the means 
of knowing and the opportunity of doing Good. 

Comes to the Light. — for instruction and vindication. 

2 This is the work which God planned for you; that you should 
be faithful to him whom God sent. He who is faithful to me, the 
works which I do, he shall do also. We are God's workmanship, 
created "in Christ Jesus," to perform good works, which He pro- 
vided that we should be continually engaged in. Let your light 
so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and 
glorify your Father who is in heaven. 

Workmanship. — see note to xixilO. Good Works. — see Note 
14. 

3 One said to Jesus, "Are not those being saved, few?" But he 
said: Strive (exert every faculty to the utmost) to enter 
through the narrow gate, for many will seek to enter in, and will 
not be able. When the Master of the house shall have risen and 
shut the door, and you stand without, and knock, saying, "Lord, 
Lord, open to us;" He will answer you; "I do not know you (as 
sons or servants.) Depart from me, all workers of \inRight- 
ness." In every nation, he who reverences God, and works 
Rightness, is accepted by Him. 

The narrow gate. — the Door of Duty; the entrance into the 
Way; see note to v:2. 

Seek to enter. — search for an entrance; some easier way into 
Life than that of doing Good. 

I do not know you, — see note to vii:l. 



46 CHAPTER VIII 



4 Thase who have declared their faith in God should be leaders 
in g'ood works; prepared for every g-ood work; complete, fully 
fitted for every good work. Work in a manner worthy of the 
Lord, that you may please Him, bringing forth fruit in every 
good work. Be firm, immovable* always abounding in the work 
of the Lord; knowing that your labor "in the Lord" is not in vain. 

Worthy of the Lord. — proportionate to His Favour (55) 
given you. 

That you may please Him. — "The art of pleasing is the art of 
rising in the world. The art of pleasing Him who made the 
world, is the art of rising to that brighter world beyond. But 
there must be. a sincere desire to please. The mere desire to 
appear to desire to please will not deceive." 

Good fruit. — Good works are the natural fruit of a Right Life; 
and the tree is known by its fruit. 

5 God is not unRiffht, and mil not forget your work, and your 
labor of love "in His Name." We should have one another on 
our minds; to excite them to love, and good works. May God 
perfect you in every good work, to do His Will; that you may do 
that which is well-pleasing before Him, — through Jesus Christ. 

Excite. — or, incite, encourage. 
Through Jesus Christ.- — see Note 10. 

6 Little children, we should not love in theory, nor with wordst, 
but in deeds and in Truth. He who examines the perfect Law of 
liberty, and continues in it, having been, not a forgetful hearer, 
but a doer of work; he is blessed, in his doing. For what is the 
profit of faith if one have not works? (if it is theory only.) If a 
brother or sister be naked, or destitute of daily food, and one of 
you say to them, "Go in peace; be warmed and satisfied," yet do 
not give them the needful things for the body; what is the 
profit? So faith without works is dead, being alone. You be- 
lieve tjiat God is? The devils also believe, and shudder. It is by 
works' that a man is made Right, — not by belief only; his faith 
energizing his works, so that by works his faith is perfected. 

Examines. — becomes intimately familiar with the Will of 
God, and recognizes that it is the only guaranty of liberty (13.) 

Go in peace. — "I wish you well; keep yourself warm and well 
fed." See sentimentality (19.) 

What is the profit? — has any Good been accomplished? 



NOTE 14 47 



7 We are ambitious to be well-pleasing to God; for we must all 
be exposed before the judgment seat of Christ, that we may re- 
ceive the things done (earned) in the body, according to what 
each did, whether good or bad. An hour is coming in which all 
those who are in the graves shall hear the Son's voice, and shall 
come forth; those who did good unto a resurrection of Life, and 
those who practiced evil unto a resurrection of condemnation. 

14. St. Paul's approval of "good works" must not be con- 
fused with Ms condemnation of "works of the law,'' — the Jewish 
Code, the traditions of the elders. 

Previous to this time, the Jewish Elders had added to the Law 
of God, given through Moses, many laws of their own making, 
which they declared were merely definitions of the original Law, 
and were equally the will of God and the mind of God from the 
beginning. These laws now numbered 613; and were mostly ab- 
surd requirements in trivial matters. 

Our Lord condemned this innovation severely: Mk. 7:5-8. 
Mt. 15:6. — The Pharisees and scribes asked him, "Why do your 
disciples ignore the traditions of the Elders?" Jesus replied, 
"Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, ^This people honor 
me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. In vain do 
they worship me, while they are teaching for doctrine the com- 
mandments «of men.' For, neglecting the commandments of God, 
you hold fast the traditions of men. You make void the com- 
mandments of God (yo\i deprive the Law of authority, make it of 
no effect, subordinate it) through your traditions." 

The Jewish position, even that of most of the Christian Jews, 
was that the Favour of God and the enjoyment of His rewards, 
depended solely on their "doing the works of the law," absolutely 
obeying this human, artificial Code. St. Paul, being a Jew, re- 
spected the Code fully; yet as positively denied that salvation 
might be attained by this mechanical method. His epistles and 
his life work were mostly devoted to this denial. 

As Rightness is activity in compliance with Truth; so Good- 
ness is activity in Love. Good works are works of Goodness, of 
Love, kindness, helpfulness. (This is not the word for "good" 
which defines ordinary excellence of quality.) See xxi:20. 

"How easier far devout enthusiasm is 

Than a good action; and how willingly . 

Our indolence takes up with pious rapture. 

Though at the time unconscious of its end, 

Only to save the toil of useful deeds." 



48 CHAPTER VIII 



8 The Son of mail is coming, in the glory of the Father, with 
his angels, and then he will render to each according to^ his 
works. The work of each will be clearly shown, for That Day 
will reveal it, because it is revealed in fire, and the fire will prove 
of what kind the work of each is. Already the ax is laid at the 
root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit 
is cut down and thrown into the fire. He will gather his grain 
into his storehouse; but the chaff he will burn up in unquenchable 
fire. Unless anyone abides in me, he is cast out as a fruitless 
branch, which dries up, and is gathered and thrown into the fire. 

Render. — retribute, recompense, repay what is due; return 
according to what has been given. 

Fire. — (41) the fire will disclose its character and test its 
value. See xxi:14. 

The ax is laid. — The Baptist expected that the heavenly King- 
dom, the reign of Christ, would be established immediately and 
preceded by a judgment. He sees the Judge, with a fan winnow- 
mg the chaff from the grain, the unRight from among the Right; 
with fire burning up the moral refuse of his generation; with an 
ax striking at the roots of corruption. 

9 We know that according to whatever Good each may have 
done, he shall receive from the Lord. He who does what is un- 
Right, shall receive for the unRightness that he did; and there is 
no favoritism,. I am He who searches the bowels and the heart; 
and I will give to each according to his works. 

The bowels and the heart. — the organs of sympathy and love. 
The Eye of Purity is your constant Watcher, listening to the 
very imaginations of the heart. 

10 According to your hardness and impenitence of heart you 
treasure up for yourself wrath in a Day of Wrath and of the rev- 
elation of the Right judgment of God, who will render to each 
according to his works; to those who with perseverance in good 
works, are seeking glory, honor, and that which is imperishable, 
He will give eternal Life. But those who, of contention, disobey 
the Truth, but obey unRightness, He will crush in burning an- 
ger; — every human Soul which works evil. But glory, honor and 
peace shall be to every one who works good. 

Contention. — self-will, opposition; opposite of meekness (18.) 
Burning anger. — Eze. 22:31. — I have poured out my indigna- 
tion upon them; I have consumed them with the fire of my 
wrath; I have recompensed their own way upon their heads, 
saith the Lord God. 



NOTES 15, 16 . 49 



11 And I heard a voice out of heaven saying, "Write; Blessed 
are the dead who die in the Lord; they rest from their labors, 
and their works follow with them." And I saw the dead, small 
and great, standing before God; and the dead were judged . . 
according to their works. Behold I come quickly, and my reward 
is with me, to render to each according to their works. 



CHAPTER IX. 



CALLING AND ELECTION. 



15. To call, by a name which qualifies, (Peter, stone,) or by 
a name which, suggests responsibility (Saviour, healer, preserv- 
er.) But especially, to invite to enjoy a privilege — which is sub- 
ject to a condition. It has no compulsory sense. Those who ac- 
cept the invitation and comply with the condition; those who, in 
the foreknowledge of God, will accord with His purpose, are the 
"elect," the chosen. To elect is simply to choose. Some were 
called saints in those times, in the same sense in which they are 
now called Christians, — with the same responsibility of living up 
to their calling, of realizing their ideal. 

"This is the marvel of the ages; that God has called us into 
Partnership with the Holy Ghost in the work of transforming 
the world into the Kingdom of heaven; called us into the Family, 
of which Christ is the Elder Brother; into Existence which we 
may make eternal in participation in His Love." 

16,. Like many who are now "called to salvation through 
grace," he thought the privilege was wholly free from cost, trou- 
ble or responsibility. The calling was free, but the election was 
not. The condition of election was that he should "put on" some- 
thing. The Greek word "enduw," — to put on, (from which we 
have "endue," — Lk. 24:49) means to invest in, to fully occupy 
and possess a virtue, to merge into, — as the setting sun appar- 
ently merges into the sea. (To creep into. 2 Tim. 3:6.) 

The Greeks pulled their clothes on over their heads; they 
"went into them," as the form of the word suggests. The gar- 
ment is simply "what is put on." What must we put on, invest 
in, merge into, as the condition of election? 

As many as were baptized into Christ, did put on Christ (in- 
vested in his character: see verse 5.) — Gal. 3:27. Put on the 



50 CHAPTER IX 



The Parable of Calling and Election. 

A King made a wedding feast for His Son, and sent his serv- 
ants to call those who had been called to the feast, and they 
would not come. Again he sent other servants, saying, "Say to 
those who have been called; I have prepared my dinner, and all 
things are ready. Come to the feast." But they being indiffer- 
ent, went, one to his field, another to his merchandise. . . 

To call.^ — see Note 15. 

2 Then the King said to his servants, "The feast indeed is 
ready; but those who were called were not worthy. Go then, into 
the cross roads and as many as you find, call to the feast." And 
those servants having gone out into the streets, brought all 
whom they found, bad and good, and the feast was fully supplied 
with guests. 

Cross roads. — possibly public squares. 

3 The King coming in to see the guests, found there a man who 
had not put on a wedding garment, and said to him, "Friend, why 
did you enter here, without a wedding garment?" and he was 
speechless. Then the King said to his servants, "Bind him hand 
and foot, and take him away and throw him into the darkness 
outside, — there shall be remorse and indignation. For many are 
called, but few elected. 

Garment . . put on. — see Note 16. 

Friend. — associate; simply, one of us. 

Elected. — worthy to be chosen. "The elect are "whosoever 
wills;" the non-elect, whosoever won't; every man classifies him- 
seK." 

4 Be diMgent brethren, to confirm your calling and election, 
that there may be awarded you a triumphal entrance into the 
everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 

Confirm. — make them secure and certain by worthiness; by 
putting on Rightness and Holiness. See xx:9. 

5 Blessed be God! who blessed us, "in Christ," with every heav- 
enly spiritual blessing, having elected us before the foundation 
of the world, to be, "in Christ," blameless and pure before Him 
in Love; having planned for our adoption. For those whom God 
foreknew would love Him, arid would co-operate with His pur- 
pose. He planned that they should be conformed to the image of 
His Son, that the Son might be the first-born among many broth- 
ers. And those for whom He planned this, He also called. 



NOTES 16, 17 51 



Lord Jesus Christ; put on the armor of Light. — Rom. 13:12, 14. 
Put on the armor of God; . . Truth, . . Rightness, . . Peace, 
. . Faith, . . Salvation, . . the sword of .the spirit, which is the 
Word of God.— Eph. 6:11-17. Put on therefor, as the elect of 
God, faculties of mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, etc. . . 
And over all, put on love. — Col. 3:12-14. Be renewed in the 
spirit of your mind, and have put on the New Man. — Eph. 4:24. 
(See "put off," 45.) 

"If our Rightness is something merely assumed, put on su- 
perficially; if we have only the form and not the spirit of godli- 
ness; like the barren fig-tree, we must hopelessly wither away." 

17. Image, identical likeness. "We all, beholding the glory 
of the Lord, . . the glory of Christ, who is the image of the in- 
visible God, . . are transformed into the same image, from glory 
to glory; . ., having put on the New Man, which is being renew- 
ed into full knowledge, to accord with the image of Him who cre- 
ated him." 

The ancient alchemists endeavored vainly to transform the 
base metals into the precious; but God, in Jesus Christ, works 
in us a more marvelous transformation, when the base metal of 
our Old Nature is changed into the precious metal of a Pure 
Life. 

Transformation by Conformation. 

"Practically the first Word of Christ is that we must be "born 
from above" (born again,) that is, higher born (x:3. — the wis- 
dom from above. xxviii:7. — seek those things which are above,) 
or we cannot comprehend the Kingdom of God. Unless we are 
heavenly (32) born, we cannot grasp the Heavenly Id^. That 
which is born of flesh is confined to sensual and material ideas; 
and spiritual ideas are tasteless (xxii:10.) But that conscious- 
ness and understanding which is "born of spirit" has the insight 
(9) and other powers of spirit. 

All birth is into consciousness of life. First: we must be 
"born of water;" (49) our hearts and consciences, — our affec- 
tions and moral judgment, — cleansed from defilement and delu- 
sion. Second; we must be "born of spirit;" our spirits purified 
(36) by saturation with the Pure Spirit of God (which is also the 
spirit of Love, of Truth, of Wisdom, of Power, of Adoption, of 
Life,) and thereby vitalized and invigorated. 

Ezekiel 36:25-27. — I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and 
you shall be cleansed from all your uncleanness; . . and I will 



52 CHAPTER IX 



Heavenly blessings. — Mt. 25:34. Come, blessed of my Fa- 
ther, inherit the (heavenly) Kingdom prepared for you from the 
foundation of the world. 

Planned. — defined His purpose with which they would co- 
operate. See Adoption, xiii. 

Conformed. — become Christ-like in spirit and Life. See 
Note 17. 

6 You are an elect people; that you might show forth the vir- 
tues of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful 
Light. If doing good and yet suffering, you endure it patiently, 
this lis Favourable before God. For Christ suffered for us, leav- 
ing U.S a model, that we should follow, walking in his steps. See 
what Love the Father has given us, — that we should be called 
to be Children of God. Every one who has this Hope in him, 
purifies himself, even as He is pure. According as He who called 
you is pure, become yourselves pure in all your conduct. 

Show forth. — reproduce; that Christ might live again in you; 
that the world in darkness might be able to say, "I have seen thy 
face, as though I had seen the face of God." 

For us. — This expression declares beyond question the sense 
in which Christ suffered for us, and the method by which he 
saves and redeems us; creating an example so forcible in its 
Truth and Beauty, in its influence "to draw all men unto him- 
self," as to compel our admiration, and call forth our emulation, 
our conformation. 

7 Grod called you from the beginning, unto purity; unto salva- 
tion; in spirit made pure and faithfulness in Truth; that you 
might ^^acquire the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Walk worth- 
ily of God, who called you into His own Kingdom and glory. Lay 
hold of eternal Life, to which you are called. 

8 The God of all Favour, who called us, "in Christ Jesus," into 
His eternal glory, after you have suffered a little while, will 
Himself perfect, confirm, establish and strengthen you. May the 
peace of God prevail in your hearts, — to this you are called. 

The God of all Favour. — ^the source of all Goodness and 
Grace. 



w: 



NOTE 17 53 



give you a new heart, and a new spirit will I give to be in you. 
. . I will give my spirit to be in you, and I will cause you to walk 
in all my Right requirements, and to keep my decrees, and to do 
them. 

We are born again through the Living and established Word 
(i:l;) that is, — "renewed in knowledge'' of God's purpose for us; 
also, "renewed in the spirit of our minds," — ^which is the condi- 
tion of Repentance (52.) 

We "are born into a Hope of Living." Every one who is 
"born of God," "loves," constantly and purely, both God and 
man; "practices Rightness;" "keeps himself from the touch of 
evil," "does not practice sin." 

Being "in Christ," ("when Christ is formed in you," when 
you have "grown up into him," when it is "no longer you who 
live, but Christ lives in you,") he is "a new creation;" having 
thrown off, renounced and disengaged himself from the Old Man 
(44,) from his sinful, sensual, selfish nature as from a dead body, 
he invests himself in the New man which is created according to 
God's original design when He made man to be in His own im- 
age. "In the image of God created He him." But man departed 
from that design; so, throus:h the knowledge of God's Will con- 
veyed to him through the Word, God designed (predestinated) 
that he should be "re-born," re-created "of Truth, in Rightness 
and Holiness." (The strict word for "holiness," denoting perfect 
relations with God; "that we should serve Him in Holiness and 
Rightness all the days of our life.") "He begat us by the Word 
of Truth, that we should be the first fruits of His new creation," 
"He selected us before the foundation of the world, to be, in 
Christ, pure and blameless before Him in Love." 

The New Man is subject to growth; "being re-newed day by 
day;" being "conformed to the image of the Son, that the Son 
may be the first-born among many brothers;" "being conformed 
to the conditions of his death" to sin, that we may be "conform- 
ed to the state of his glory." 

"Oh, for a man to arise in me. 

That the man I am might cease to be." 

"Coulds't thou in vision see 

Thyself the man God meant; 

Thou never more woulds't be 

The man thou art, content*" 



CHAPTER X. 



MEEKNESS, HUMILITY, SENSIBILITY 

The blessedness of the gentle is td share the earth. Learn of 
me. for I am gentle and humble in heart, — and your soul shall 
find rest. Whoever will humble himself as a little child, he is 
greater in the heavenly Kingdom. God opposes the haughty, but 
gives Grace to the humble. Humble yourselves before the Lord, 
and He will lift you up. The imperishajble ornament of a gentle 
and quiet spirit is precious in the estimation of God. 

The blessedness of the gentle. — the good fortune of the meek 
(18;) the true joys of earth are reserved for them. The price of 
worldly wealth and honors is incessant strife; vexation of spirit, 
weariness of mind and body; and these things "perish with the 
using." The true earthly blessedness; tranquility, peace of 
mind, approval of conscience, the good-will of our fellows, enjoy- 
ment of the common pleasures, is the share acquired by the gen- 
tle and humble in spirit, — if that disposition is supported by 
vigor and firmness of character. The violent may obtain, but 
only the meek are able to enjoy. 

2 Act worthy of the calling wherewith you are called; patiently 
bearing with one another in love, with all humilHty and gentle- 
ness. Speak evil of no one; be not contentious; show gentleness 
toward all in reasonableness. For we also were once ignorant, 
obstinate, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and base pleasures, 
living in malice and envy, hated and hating one another; But 
when the kindness and love-to-man of God our Saviour was 
made known; according to His mercy, He made us whole. 

Was made known. — We were convinced of God's Love 
through the Devotion of Christ; our life, in its purpose and char- 
acter, was reversed, revised, made whole, transformed into the 
wholesome Christian Life of Love, — in accordance with the char- 
acteristic Goodness of God. 

3 Who is wise and understanding among you, let him prove it 
by good conduct, in gentleness of wisdom. For if you have bitter 
passion and contention in your hearts, do you not boast and lie? 
This is not the wisdom that comes from above; but is earthly. 



NOTE 18 55 



sensual, devilish. For where passion and contention are, there 
is confusion and every wrong activity. 

4 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, 
sweetly reasonable, condescending, bountiful in mercy and pro- 
ductive of Goodness; free from favoritism and from all insincer- 
ity. The fruit of Rightness is sown in peace, for those who make 
peace. Blessed are the peace-makers; for they shall be called 
the Children of God. 

The fruit of Rightness. — Rightness is the fruit of which 
peace is the seed sown. Those who "make peace,'' who effect 
human harmony by inciting mutual love, by the exercise of 
heavenly wisdom, reap Rightness,, and become Children of God. 

5 The love of money is a source of all evils, which some striv- 
ing after, were seduced from the Faith, and pierced themselves 
with many sorrows. But you, O man of God, flee from these 
things, and pursue Rightness, God-likeness, Faith, Love, patient 
endurance, gentleness. 

6 Our common- wealth (Kingdom) exists in heaven; from which 
we receive our Saviour Jesus Christ, who will transform our 
state of humiliation until it will be conformed to the state of his 
glory, through the energy of his power, to subject all things to 
himself. 

18. Meekness is mildness and gentleness of disposition, in 
contrast with strife aitd selfish contention, prejudice and obsti- 
nacy. It is the calmness in the confidence of power, of a well- 
instructed and well-possessed spirit. It is not timidity, but con- 
trolled strength. The test of any great work is the Grace with 
which it is done. It is to preserve serenity in the supreme trials 
of life. It is the crown of Self-control. 

"It is almost a definition of a gentleman to say that he is one 
who never inflicts pain. He is slow to take offense, as one who 
never gives it; slow to surmise evil, as one who never thinks it. 
He subjects his appetites; he refines his taste; he subdues his 
feelings; he controls his speech; he deems every one better than 
himself; he gains the esteem of all by a thousand little civilities, 
kindnesses, and endeavors to give others pleasure.'* 

Humility is, not grasping, not presuming, not insisting on 
place, position, or honors; not haughty nor arrogant. See v:5. 

Meekness is self-denial of power; humility, self-denial of 
honors. 



56 CHAPTER X 



Our commonwealth exists* — or, our State subsists; is heav- 
enly in character (31,) not political^ earthly. 

The Parable of Humility. 

7 He spoke this parable to some who were over-confident of 
their Rightness, and despised others: Two men went into the 
temple to pray; one a Pharisee and the other a tax-gatherer. 
The Pharisee, standing proudly alone, was praying thus: "O 
G'od, I thank thee that I am not as the many; grasping, unRight, 
adulterers, or even as this tax-gatherer. I fast twice in the week. 
I return a tenth of what I gain." 

The many. — hoi poiloi; the crowd generally. 

Tax gatherer. — who betrays his nation for profit; accepting 
Roman money to extort heavy takes from his fellow Jews; an act 
which was considered to be the abyss of infamy. 

8 But the tax-gatherer, standing far back would not even lift 
his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, "O God, 
be merciful to me, a sinner." I say to you, this one went home, 
justified, rather than the other. For every one who exalts him- 
self shall be humiliated; and who humbles himself shall be ex- 
alted. 

Justified. — strengthened in Rightness; confirmed in his pur- 
pose to be Right; upheld, vindicated. 

Exalts. — upholds himself as Right; holds himself up to be 
honored. 

The Divine Model of Sensibility. 

9 If you have found any Help and encouragement in Christ; 
any persuasive power in Love; any participation in his spirit; or 
if you have any pity and sympathy, — complete my joy,-— that you 
be united and co-operating in Sensibility, in Love, in soul. Sen- 
sible of nothing in a spirit of selfish contention or vain pride, but 
in humility esteeming each other above your selves; each con- 
sidering intently, not your own interests only, but those of 
others. 

Sensibility. — see Note 19. 

United . . in soul. — in the object of interest and pleasure. 
"Doing the Will of God from the soul." "I delight in the Law of 
God." Concentrate upon the service of Christ (which is the 



NOTE 19 57 



service of humanity,) exclusive Sensibility, affection, and earn- 
est desire. 

10 Let this Sensibillity be in you which was also in Christ Je- 
siA; who, existing in the essence and nature of God, thought it 
not something to be greedily grasped to be equal with Grod, but 
emptied himself (not of divinity but of glory;) and having taken 
the character of a slave, became (in likeness of) man! And 
having been found to be very man; he further humbled himself, 
and became obedient unto Death, even the death of the cross! 

11 Wherefor, God highly exalted him; and Favoured him with 
a Name which is above every name; that "in the Name of Jesus" 
every knee should bow, — of beings in heaven, and on earth, and 



19. Sense, Sensibility, Sentiment; sensitiveness of Feeling; 
intelligent, active sympathy with the needs and feelings of oth- 
ers; fellow-feeling. "A man, to be greatly Good and wise, must 
imagine intensely and comprehensively in the place of another 
and of many others. The Feelings of others must become his 
own." 

It is also Sensitiveness to one's own feelings and desires. The 
unRight steward (verse 17) was commended for Sensitiveness to 
the condition of the poor tenants; the rich man (xxiv:12) was 
condemned by his sensitiveness centered upon himself. 

Spiritual Sensitiveness, to recognize what is Good and True; 
see Note 9. 

Sentiment is the faculty by which we perceive how love may 
be employed, and which excites love to action. It prevents the 
heart from "hardness," and without it Rightness may be unlove- 
ly. The original word denotes that Sensibility is the result of 
the active co-operation of intellect, affection and sympathy. In- 
tellect directs with accuracy; affection warms; and sympathy 
furnishes the insight. 

This word, with a prefix denoting sound, whole, wholesome, 
occurs 15 times. (See verse 12.) If sentiment is not sound, 
healthy, wholesome, reasonable, expressed in action; if it leads 
to nothing; it becomes a shallow sentimentality, an enervating 
luxury of the mind, an emotional dissipation, a destructive in- 
fluence. A glorious vision of a Life, which we do not endeavor to 
reproduce, is sentimentality in religion; and we are not saved by 
sentimentality. 



58 • CHAPTER X 



under the earth; and every tongue should confess that Jesus is 
Christ and Lord, unto the glory of God the Father. 

A Name . . the name. — In the first instance, gave him pow- 
ers of salvation ; Saviour. In the second instance, suggesting the 
obedient reverence "in which every knee should bow" to tnat 
sublime Purpose, of Salvation through removal of sins. 

Is Christ and Lord. — christened, anointed to. be prophet, 
priest, and king, — and- master. 

12 Be not lightly Sentimental, beyond what is consistent with 
Sense; but be so Sensitiye as to be soundly Sensible. Be equally 
sensitive toward each other; not Sensitive only toward those 
who are highly esteemed, but condescending to the lowly. Be not 
Sensitive toward yourselves. 

13 Finally, be of one humble, loving Sentiment; sympathizing, 
loving the brethren, compassionate, not paying back wrong for 
wrong, or abuse for abuse, but, on the contrary, blessing; for you 
know that your invitation is to receive Blessedness, He who 
wills to love Llife, and to see good days, let him silence his tongue 
from wrong, and his lips from speaking deceit. Let him turn 
aside from wrong, and do good. Let him seek peace, and pursue 
after it. Because the eyes of the Lord are (affectionately) on 
the Right, and His ears are open to their requests. But His face 
is set against those doing wrong. 

Blessedness. — "There is in man a higher than a love of pleas- 
ure. He can do without pleasure, and instead thereof find 
Blessedness! Was it not to preach forth this same Higher that 
sages and martyrs, the poet and priest, in all times have spoken 
and suffered; bearing testimony, through life and through death, 
of the Godlike that is in man, and how in the Godlike only has he 
strength and freedom." 

"He that hath clean hands and a pure heart, who hath not 
lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully; he shall re- 
ceive the Blessing from the Lord." 

The Parable of the Sensible Steward. 

14 Who is that faithful and Sen,sible steward, whom his master 
will set over his household, to give the portion of food in proper 
season. Blessed is that servant whom his lord, when he oomes, 
shall find so doing. 



CHAPTER X 59 

15 A certain man was rich; who had a steward who was ac- 
cused of wasting his property. And having called him, his lord 
said to him, "What is this I hear about you? Render the account 
of your administration; for you can no longer be steward." Then 
the steward said to himself, "What shall I do; for my lord is tak- 
ing away the stewardship from me. I am not strong enough to 
dig. I am ashamed to beg. I know what I may do, so that when 
I have been removed from the stewardship, they may receive me 
into their homes." 

A steward. — an administrator, — who, according to the cus- 
tom of the time, (which also applied to the tax-gatherers,) was a 
lessee, who for a fixed sum leased farms, orchards, tenants; with 
the privilege of making any exactions which did not result in 
damage to the property. But this steward had passed the line of 
privilege. His exactions from the tenants had resulted in waste 
of the property entrusted to him. Notice; that, though adminis- 
tering in the name of the owner, (as tax-gatherers administered 
in the name of Caesar,) the deductions were from his own in- 
come. 

16 Calling to him each of the debtors (of his lord,) he said to 
the first, "How much do you owe (my lord?") and he replied, 
"750 gallons of oil." He said to him, "Take your contract, and 
write down 375." Then he said to another, "And how much do 
you owe?" and he replied, "800 bushels of grain.' He said to 
him, "Take your contract and write 640." 

17 And the lord of the unRight steward praised him; because 
he had done Sensibly. For the sons of this age are more Sensi- 
ble that the sons of the Light are in their own generation. And 
I say^to you; make lovers of yourselves by means of the unRight 
Mammon, that when you fail (cease, die; or, it fails,) they may 
receive you into the eternal dwellings. 

The unRight steward. — one who did not comply with the Jew- 
ish Code (14.) According to the Jews' classification, a renegade, 
like the tax-gatherer (note to verse 7,) who extorted money from 
his fellow Jews. 

He had done sensibly. — Feelingly, kindly, mercifully; encour- 
aging the tenants by this suspension (54) of their debts, this new 
hope giving them hew energy, — to the great advantage of the 
proprietor. 

The sons of this age. — those devoted to the now-life. 



60 CHAPTER XI 

In their own generation. — enlightened, peculiarly adapted to 
them. 

Mammon. — the name given to wealth when worshiped. 

18 He who is faithful in that which is least, is faithful in that 
which is much; and he who is unRight in that which is least, is 
unRight in that which is much. If you have not been faithful in 
the administration of the unRight Mammon, who will trust you 
with the true riches? No man is able to serve two lords; . ,. 
You cannot serve Grod and Mammon. 

Faithful. — Present tests are for future trusts. See xxiill. 

The true riches. — 1 Pet. 4:10. — stewards of the manifold 
Grace of God. 

To serve. — the word denotes absolute, exclusive, whole-souled 
service. 

19 And the Pharisees, being money-lovers, sneered at him. 

CHAPTER XL 



LOVE. 



The Psalm of Love. 

Be zealous to obtain the best spiritual giifts of Grace; and yet 

1 show you a far better way than zeal. 

Love. — see Note 20; Grace (55.) The Grace from God, spir- 
itual faculty, is obtained through the Way of Love. 

2 Though I speak with all human and angelic eloquence, and 
have not love, I am but as ringing brass and a clanging cymbal. 
If I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and 
all knowledge; and have all faith^ so that I might remove moun- 
tains; but have not love; I am nothing. If I give all that I have 
to feed the poor; and lay my body on the altar fire, yet not for 
love; I profit nothing. 

Prophesy. — ^forthtelling rather than foretelling; ability to ex- 
plain the mysteries of Truth. "Knowledge puffs up; but love 
builds up." J 

Mountains. — of difficulty. 



NOTE 20 61 



20. Love is the earnest desire and constant effort to promote 
the real good and final well-being of others, regardless of their 
present pleasure or the gratification of their self-seeking desires. 
It prefers their wellfare to their good will. It desires to give — 
not to receive. It seeks no expression of gratitude, or any other 
reward than that most precious and enduring one, the satisfac- 
tion of being a fellow-worker with God in the establishment of 
His Kingdom; co-operating (faithfulness) with the Divine 
Power (Love and Truth) by which He is seeking to unite all 
things to each other an^ to Himself. It is engaging in such con- 
duct that, if every one would imitate it, the sorrows of the world 
would cease at once. It is not simply a feeling; but a purpose 
which must be knit into the fiber of our lives. There are sepa- 
rate words for selfish and unselfish (sensual and spiritual) love. 
All references following are to the latter. 

The Heart. 

is the organ and source of love, — and of hate, perverted love. 
From the heart is the choice and impulse of interest; it is the 
source of effort and attention. The "heart" chooses what inter- 
ests shall have attention. We aspire to and desire what we love; 
and what one's desire is, that he becomes in a great measure. 
"Guard your heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues 
of life." "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he." "He who 
puts his heart into his work, puts his work into his heart." "We 
are constantly, though unconsciously praying, either for those 
things which are corruptible and defile the life of the soul, or for 
those things which are eterjial and develop within us the higher 
life. We are either praying for those things which minister to 
the wants of the body and shall perish with it, or for those things 
which minister to the Life of the spirit and which shall abide for- 
ever." 

The heart is the seat of imagination; the faculty of setting 
our knowledge of the Truth in systematic order and contemplat- 
ing it; of admiration, discerning what is beautiful and excellent; 
and of forming Ideals, mental images of that invisible Goodness 
which we ardently aspire to realize; perceiving with accuracy 
and purity the image (17) which God made us to conform to. 
Love is the incentive and impulse of our "transformation" into 
this image. "Strive to realize the image of God; — your imagina- 
tion is strengthened, the image grows more distinct and positive, 



62 CHAPTER XI 



3 Love is patient, is kind, [is not envious, does not "show itself 
off," is not puffed up with conceit, does not behave discourteous- 
ly, is not selfishly grasping, not easily irritated, is not charging 
up injuries for revenge, rejoices not in sympathy with unRight- 
ness, but rejoices with the iFruth. Love protects (others) from 
injury; is faithful in all things, hopeful in all things, courageous 
in all things. 

Love exhibits the qualities of Patience, Kindness, Generosity, 
Humility; is without Conceit, Discourtesy, Selfishness, Irritabil- 
ity, Retaliation, Insincerity; but is Sincere, Helpful, and Stead- 
fast in Faith, Hope, and Courage. 

4 Love never fails. Prophesies may come to nothing; lan- 
guages may cease to be; knowledge prove fruitless. For our 
knowledge is all in part, imperfect, passing. But these endure; 
faith, hope, love; and the greatest of these is love. 

Love never fails. — or, Love never dies. 

5 Wherefor, pursue love; in all you are become loving; and 
the God of peace and love shall be with you. 



6 Her sins are put away, because she loved much. Love will 
cover a multitude of sins. You obeyed, out of the heart the 
teaching given you, and were set free from sin. 

Put away. — set aside; execution of penalty suspended (54.) 
Love will cover. — hide from judgment (Lk. 23:30;) to draw 
the veil of charity over (Jas. 5:20) preventing criticism. 

7 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Having 
purified your hearts in faithfulness, . . having purified your 
souls in obedience to the Truth, through the spirit, unto sincere 
brotherly love; love one another earnestly, out of a pure heart; 
. . inciting others to love and good works. 

Having purified your souls. — desires, from selfishness. "Noth- 
ing grows to perfection without exercise of its functions; and 
that Purity of spirit which is the highest object of life, can only 
be obtained by earnest and Sensible exercise of Love "toward 
each other and toward all." 

8 May God help you to increase and abound in love, toward 
each other and toward all; that your hearts may be found estab- 
lished blameless in purity, before our God and Father, at the 
coming of our Lord Jesus. 



NOTE 20 63 



To increase and abound. — to grow and glow with Love. 
Your hearts . . blameless in purity. — loving only what is 
pure. 

9 The object of the Gospel is (to incite) love, out of a pure 
heart and good moral judgment, and faithfulness without pre- 
tense. Out of the heart is faithfulness unto RSghtness. Fly 
from childish lusts; and pursue Rightness, faithfulness, love, 
peace, with those who call upon the Lord out of a pure heart. 

10 I pray that your love may abound more and more in knowl- 
edge, and accurate perceptions, and discrimination; that you 
may have stood the test of Light, not having stumbled or caused 
others to stumble, unto the Dky of Christ ; being filled (replete) 
with the fruits of Rightness, which are "through Jesus Christ," 
unto the glory and praise of God. 

That your love may abound in knowledge. — that your love 
may be reasonable, that it may be effective. 
The test of Light. — see viiirl. 
Unto the glory and praise of God. — see iv:4. 

11 He who says he is "in the Light," and hates his brother 
(man) is still in darkness. He who loves his brother, abides in 
the Light, and does not stumble. When the Lord shall have 
come^ he will both bring into light the hidden things of darkness 
(the evil will,) and the counsels of the hearts; and then each 
shall have praise from God. 

.The counsels of the hearts. — our hates and loves, our estab- 
lished likes and dislikes, have made us what we are, and by these 
we shall be judged. 

12 A^ chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on sympathy and 
compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, control of passion; 

until the spirit enters into it, and 'Christ lives in you,' and you 
have put on the New Man." 

The Life of God, through Faith, must first be lived in imag- 
ination before it can be realized in fact. The more vivid the im- 
agination, the more vital the Life. The culture of the imagina- 
tion is the culture of the Ideal. Unless the ideal is continually 
tested by Truth, and purified by Love, it easily becomes evil. 
"Out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murder, adultery, un- 
chastity, theft, perjury, slander. These are the things which de- 



64 CHAPTER XII 



supporting and Favouring each other, if anyone have complaint 
against anyone, even as Christ Favoured you, do likewise. And 
over all these, put on love, which is the bond of perfection, and 
let the peace of Grod rule in your hearts; (to this you are called,) 
and be thankful. 

Put on sympathy, etc. — See Note 16. 

Favouring each other. — see Note 55. 

The bond of perfection. — Love embraces and knits together 
all the virtues. 

13 Treasure up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where 
neither moth nor rust corrupt, and where thieves do not break in 
and steal; for where your treasure is, there will your heart be 
also. The good man, out of the good treasure of his heart, 
brings forth good things; and the evil man, evil things. Thlis 
people draw near me with their lips, but their heart is far from 
me. 



CHAPTER XII. 



THE LOVE OF GOD. 

Grod so loved the world that He gave His Only Son, that every 
one who is faithful to him need not perish; but may have eternal 
Life; . . that we might Live through him. 

Perish. — be lost out of Life; (same word translated "lost" in 
Jn. 6:12.) 

2 God commends His love to us, in that, while we were yet sin- 
ners, Christ died for us; who loved us, and washed us from our 
sins in his own Blood. 

Commends. — literally, "to assemble standing;" as a king 
assembles the units of his army in one standing evidence of his 
power; so God concentrated His love for man in the one sublime 
standing evidence of the Gift of His Only Son. 

Died for us.— on our behalf; to bring us to God; that we 
might Live in him. 

Washed us . . in his own Blood. — see Note 6. 



CHAPTER XII 65 



3 Because of the great love wherewith He loved us, though we 
were dead in sins, He made us alive together with Christ, and 
raised us up together, and established us in possession of the 
highest and eternal blessings, "in Christ Jesus." 

In Christ Jesus; . . that He might indicate to the coming 
ages, by kindness to us, the incomprehensible^ wealth of His Fa- 
vour. Rom. 11:22. — Behold the kindness of God, if you continue 
worthy of His kindness; otherwise you will be cut off. 

4 We know that we have passed out of death into Life, because 
we love the brethren. He who loves not his brother, abides in 
death. He who abides in love, abides in God, and God in him. 
Keep yourselves in the love of GU)d, awaiting the mercy of our 
Lord Jesus Christ unto Life eternal. 

Awaiting the mercy. — or perhaps, availing ourselves of the 
mercy, the loving kindness of God. 

5 Let the Word of Christ dwell in your hearts richly, in all wis- 
dom. Hold fast that which you were taught, and himself our 
Lord Jesus Christ, and God our Father, who loved us and gave 
us eternal encouragement and good hope, shall inform your 
hearts, and establish you in every good Word and work; that 
your hearts may be informed and encouraged, being perfected in 
love, that you may have all the riches of full assurance of under- 
standing in knowledge of the mystery of God. 

The mystery of God. — the hitherto hidden Truth; see xix:ll. 

6 God's love has been poured out in our hearts in the holy spirit 
which is given us. May God give you power, out of His glorious 
abundance, that your Inner Man may be strengthened through 
His spirit; that Christ may dwell in your hearts through Faith; 
that, being rooted and established in love, you may be fully able 
to comprehend what is the breadth and length and depth and 
height, and to experience the surpassing-knowledge love of 
Christ, — that you may be filled with love, as God is full. 

The Inner Man. — ^the hidden man of the heart (20;) the intel- 
lectual and spiritual, as distinct from the physical and sensual. 

7 What shall separate us from (the benefits of) the love of 
GkM "in Christ Jesus our Lord?" Oppression, difficulty, perse- 
cution, hunger, nakedness, danger, the sword? In all these we 
are more than victorious through Him who loved us. 

Victorious through. — in the power of. See Note 31. 



66 CHAPTER XII 



8 They were victorious through the Blood of the Lamb, and 
through the Word to which they were witnesses; and because 
they loved not their souls unto death. In "this we have known the 
love of Christ; because he laid down his soul for us, — and it is 
our debt to lay down our souls for the brethreUo May the Lord 
direct your hearts into the love of God, and the perseverance of 
Christ. 

Through the Blood, .^ . Word. — the Divine Life (6) and the 
Divine Order (1.) 

They loved not their souls unto death.- — they renounced their 
own pleasure, even the desire to live; the fear of pain, even the 
pain of death, did not prevent them. 

He laid down his soul. — as one lays down his gift on the altar, 
and goes away and leaves it, so Christ renounced the satisfac- 
tions of present life, laying them down on the altar of sacrifice 
for men. "The Father loves me because I lay down my soul for 
the sheep." "If God so loved us; we ought to love one another." 
"God loves an enthusiastic giver." 

9 He who does not love, does not know God, for God is Love. 
No one has ever (intelligently) seen God; blit if we -love each 
other, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us.. If any- 
one should say, "I love God," yet hates his brother (man,) he is a 
liar. For how can he who does not love his brother whom he has 
seen, love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment 
we have from Him ; That he who loves God, shall love his brother 
(man) likewise. And this is love; that we should walk according 
to his commandments. 

Notice in these verses the forcible sense of abide, keep (2,) 
walk (10.) 

10 I give you a new commandment : you should love one another, 
even as I have loved you. If you have love among yourselves; 
by this, all will know that you are my disciples. If you love me, 
you will keep my commandments. He who has my command- 
ments, and keeps my Word; it is he who loves me; and he shall 
be loved by jny Father, and I will love him, and I will clearly 
.show myself to him; and we will dwell with him constantly. 

Even as I have loved you. — The old order was to love our fel- 
low men equally with ourselves; but Christ proposes the sublime 
Ideal that we love them with an absolutely unselfish devotion. 

Disciples. — followers; that you have learned of me. See x:l. 



CHAPTER XIII 67 



If you love me . . keep. — (2) "I report, as a man may of 
God's work; alFs love, yet all's law." 

He who has.— holds fast in understanding, in affection, in will 
to do. 

11 As the Father has loved me, I have loved you. Continue in 
my love; as I have kept my Father's commandments and con- 
tinue in His love. I have made known to them Thy Name (God 
is Love) and will make it known that the love with which you 
have loved me, may be in them; and "I in them." In him who 
keeps His Word, the love of God is truly perfected. By this we 
know that we are "in Him." All things co-operate for the good 
of those who love God. 

12 Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither has the heart of 
man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him. 
Grace, mercy, and peace, from the Father God, and from Jesus 
Christ, shall be with you who are living in Truth and Love. 



CHAPTER Xni. 



CHILDREN OF GOD. 

Blessed are the peace-makers; for they shall be called Sons 
of God. You have heard that it was. said, "You shall love your 
neighbor, and hate your enemy," but I say, love your enemies; 
bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and 
pray for tho.se who insult and trouble you; that you may become 
Sons of your heavenly Father. Be therefore perfect, even a?; 
your Father is perfect. 

Sons of God. — see Note 21. 

Sons of your heavenly Father. — Luke adds, "for He is kind to 
the displeasing and the ill-willed. Be therefore merciful (pitiful 
and kind) as your Father is merciful." 

Be therefore perfect.— in knowledge of the Truth, in purity 
from defilement of sin, in perfect discharge of every duty of 
Love. "How, it may be asked, does a man become infinitely ad- 
mirable? Really, except it were by doing justly and loving 
mercy to an unprecedented extent, one does not know. The man 
must Valk,' as it is said, dumbly with God;' humbly and valiant- 



68 CHAPTER XIII 



ly with God; struggling to make the earth heavenly as he can; 
instead of walking contemptuously and pridef ully with Mammon, 
leaving the earth to grow hellish as it likes." 

2 "I will be to you a Father, and you shall be to me sons and 
daughters," saith the Lord Almighty. Then, having these prom- 
ises, we should cleanse ourselves from every pollution of flesh 
and spirit, perfecting purity in reverence of God. As obedient 
children, become pure in all your conduct, according a.s He who 
invited you is pure. Do your duty without complaint or opposi- 
tion, that you may be faultless and pure children of God. 

Pure. — ^in this instance, without adulteration. 

3 See what love the Father has given us, that we should be in- 
vited to be Children of God. No one who is born of God prac- 
tices sin. All who have been born of God, overcome the world. 
It does not yet appear what we are becoming; but if it shall ap- 
pear that we are becoming like Him, then we shall see Him as He 
is. Every one who has this hope in him, purifies himself, even 
as He is pure. 

Overcome the world. — The world, with its temptations and 
defilements, considered as a trapping and enslaving power. See 
xxv:l. Conquest (31.) 

We shall see Him. — The pure in heart shall see God. 

4 Become imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in 
love, even as Christ loved us, and gave himself for us; and, hold- 
ing the Truth in love, grow up "into Christ" in all things. 
Through faithfulness ^in Jesus Christ" you are Sons of God. 

Become imitators . . and . . grow up. — ^^"The impressions we 
cherish, the influences we accept, the examples we imitate, the 
habits we form, these are making immortal character. What I 
am to be, I am becoming." 

In Jesus Christ. — living faithfully in his Life, and conform- 
ing to his character. "In him" we acquire the inheritance which 
God originally designed, according to His purpose Who ener- 
gizes all things to accord with the decisions of His Will. 

5 Before the foundation of the world God selected us to be "in 
Christ," to be pure and blameless before Him in love; having 
planned our adoption (through Jesus Christ) unto Himself. To 
as many as receive the Word, He gives power and opportunity to 
become Children of God; to those who are faithful to His Name; 
. . to those who are born of God. Every one who practices 
Rightness, and loves his brother (man) is born of God. 



NOTES 21, 22 69 



Adoption. — see Note 22. 

Receive the Word. — make the Idea of God the Ideal they 
strive to realize. 

Faithful to His Name. — to His purpose defined in the verse 
following. 

6 For those who love God, who are in accord with his purpose, 
He has planned, (foreknowing their love,) that they should be- 

21. True Sonship depends, not on the accident of physical 
descent, but on mental and spiritual relationship, — that the son 
has the father's nature and characteristics; exhibits like sympa- 
thies, interests, objects of attainment, purpose and spirit; that 
he has grown into the father's image. The Only Son was the 
only son who exhibited His nature in perfection. We become 
sons, and "make our calling and election sure" by transformation 
(17) into the image of the Only Son. 

"If we could clearly realize the fact, which is a fact, that we 
are (provisional) Children of God, princes of the King of kings, 
inheritors of the Kingdom of heaven, in which we may dwell in 
His glorious presence through endless ages of unspeakable joy; 
would we not concentrate our energies on that purification of 
heart, mind, soul and spirit by which we qualify for adoption!" 

We should love one another, because love is of God, and every 
one who loves (is loving) has been born of God, and (intimately) 
knows God. — 1 Jn. 4:7. 

Heirs: Possessors in prospect of God's eternal blessings, re- 
served in heaven for us; hence, "seek those things where Christ 
is sitting at the right hand of God." 

22. It was often the case, in the Greek cities at that time, 
that a childless man, moved by love, would "before appoint to 
adoption" as his son and heir, some youth who by misfortune had 
become a slave! Regularly purchased, he remained a slave until 
his love, honor and obedience, his worthiness to receive sonship 
and heirship were proved; until he had qualified, by loyalty to 
the Father's will, and conformity to the character of an ideal son. 
We are enslaved to sin in the flesh. God has appointed us to 
adoption. Christ has set before us the filial example; the oppor- 
tunity and power of liberty and sonship. The spirit is the first- 
fruits and pledge (48) of this glorious inheritance. The life in 
the spirit of Christ Jesus is the "redemption" which God has 
provided "for the release of the acquired possession, unto the 
praise of His glory." — Eph. 1:14. 



70 CHAPTER XIII 



come conformed to the image of His Son; that the Son might be 
the first born among many Brothers. Those in accord with His 
plan, he also invited; and whom He invited, He made Right; and 
whom He made Right, He also glorified. If God be for us, who 
can prevent us. 

Conformed to the image of His Son. — that they should be- 
come Christ-like. See Notes 17, 28, 10. 

Invited (15,) made Jlight (27.) 

7 The earnest expectation of the human creation is for the evo- 
lution of the Sons of God; that they may be liberated from the 
destructive slavery of sin, into the glorious liberty of Children 
of God; and we ourselves, who have the assurance of the spirit, 
groan in ourselves, awaiting adoption and liberation. 

8 Because you are sons, God sent forth the spirit of His Son 
into your hearts. As many as are led by the spirit of God, they 
are the Sons of God; for you did not receive an enslaving spirit, 
but an adopting spirit, in which we cry, "Father, Father." And 
this spirit bears witness with our spirits that we are the Chil- 
dren of God; and if Children, also Heirs; heirs indeed of God, 
and joint-heirs with Christ; — ^that is, if we suffer with him, that 
we may also be glorified with him. 

Into your hearts. — God has inspired in our hearts an Ideal of 
perfection, the image of an ideal son. Of this Ideal the spirit 
ever reminds us. 

Father, Father. — The first of these words (Abba,) has a Yery 
intimate sense, like "papa." 

Heirs. — see Note 21. 

If we suffer. — It is not involuntary suffering in general, espe- 
cially suffering the penalty of our sins; for that often hardens 
the heart and provokes the spirit; but voluntary suffering like 
Christ, crucifying (51) the body with the passions and lusts. 
"For I calculate that the sufferings of the present time are not 
worthy to be compared with the glory about to be revealed in 
us." 

9 The captain of our salvation, bringing many Sons to glory, 
was made perfect through suffering; for, since the children had 
in common, flesh and blood, he, in .like manner took part in the 
same; that he who purifies and those purified should be of one 
nature. We are members of his body; of his flesh and of his 
bones. 

Captain. — Prince and Leader. 



CHAPTER XIV 71 



We are members of his body. — As in our flesh he underwent 
our experience, so we are to undergo his experience, as though 
we were actually members of his body, reproducing his life. 

10 , My son, despise not the discipline of the Lord, nor shrinfe 
back, being corrected by Him; for whom the Lord loves He dis- 
ciplines, and scourges every Son whom He acknowledges. En- 
dure it as training, for God is dealing with you as with Sons. 
Fortunate is the man who endures trial; because, having been 
approved, he shall receive the crown of Life, which the Lord has 
promised to those who love Him. 

The discipline of the Lord. — 

"Like some schoolmaster, kind in being stern, 
Who hears the children crying o'er their slates, . 
And calling, ^Help me, master,' yet helps not, 
Since in his silence and refusal lies 
Their self-development. So God abides, 
Unheeding many prayers. He is not deaf 
To any cry sent up to him from earnest hearts; 
He hears and strengthens when He must deny; 
He sees us weeping over life's hard sums; 
But should He give the key, and dry our tears, 
What would it profit us when school was done 
And not one lesson mastered?" 

Life is a school wherein he who will not learn must suffer. 
See xxiii:6. 

Scourges. — to correct, and to urge forward. 
The crown. — see note to xxv:3. 



CHAPTER XIV. 



RECONCILIATION. 

Romans 5:1-11; presents the grounds the Right man, "made 
Right in His Blood," has for "boasting,"— exultant pride in the 
Divine Favour: 1. Peace, the absence of fear, "knowing our- 
selves to be Preserved from the Wrath." 2. Access to Grace, in 
which we stand fast in the Right Life. 3. Hope of partaking in 
the glory (the divine powers and privileges) of God. 4. Boast- 
ing in adversities which befall us, in which perseverance in 



72 CHAPTER XIV 



Eightness develops the Right Life; the power of Grace is proved; 
and the Hope *'is not embarrassed," but justified. 5. Two evi- 
dences of God's love; (a.) that His "love has been poured into 
our hearts in His holy spirit which was given us;" (b.) the con- 
vincing evidence in Christ. 

While we were yet weak, Christ died for those who did not 
reverence God. One would hardly die for a Right man; some one 
might, but it is improbable, be willing to die for a Good man; but 
God commends His own love to us, in that, while we were yet sin- 
ners, Christ died for us. 

Weak. — in resistence of sin, because of ignorance and spirit- 
ual unconsciousness; also, in our state of spiritual sickness (56), 
moral infirmity. 

Right . . Good.-^strict Rightness commands respect; but 
Goodness — that is benevolence — wins love. 

Commends. — to present in a forcible, convincing manner; to 
establish as true. See note to xii:2. 

We feared God as unfriendly and despotic, determined to 
punish us severely, and to the letter, for our sins committed in 
weakness; but the dedicated life of His Son, commending His 
love to us, while we were yet sinners and enemies, effectively 
reversed our feeling; we were positively convinced of His loving 
kindness toward us; gratitude was awakened; reciprocal love ex- 
ercised; by faith, through grace, we accept His Will, conform to' 
His Life, are made Right, and attain to salvation. So Christ is 
the producing cause of this re-formation in our attitude, and 
consequently, in ourselves. 

Christ died for us. — Here we see again the object of the sacri- 
fice of Christ, His Blood shed for us; to awaken, excite, invigor- 
ate our Love for him who so loved us, and our sacrifice for him, 
— that we too should "take up the cross" (38,) living in his Life. 

2 If, while we were yet enemies of God, we were reconciled to 
God through the death of His Son; how much more, having been 
reconciled, shall we be saved "in his Life." Not only are we 
assured of salvation; but we boast in possession of the love of 
God, through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we received 
the reconciliation. 

Reconciled to God. — see Note 23. 

Saved . . in his Life. — restored to wholeness; preserved from 
wrath, and given strength and health of Life. See Note 3. 



NOTE 23 . 73 



3 Christ's love compels us; for we must conclude that, if one 
died for all, it was because all were (.spiritually) dead; and he 
died for, all, that they which live should not hereafter live for 
their own pleasure, but for his, who for them, died and rose 
again. 

Died and rose again. — Died to convince them of Love! rose to 
assure them of life. 

4 Then, if anyone is "in Christ;" he is a new creation. The 
former things having passed away, he has become altogether 
New. And he is wholly "of God," Who reconciled us to Himself 
through Jesus Christ. 

"In Christ."— See Note 29. 

New creation. — the New Man, recreated to accord with God's 
original design when He made man in His own image (17.) 

"Of God." — born of God; conformed in nature to the Divine 
Life and Spirit to "the image of His Son." 

5 Who also gave us the responsibility of reconciling others; to 
declare to them how God was, in Christ, reconciling the world to 
Himself; — not charging their sins against them. And God has 
put in our charge the Word of Reconciliation. 

Not charging their sins. — not to depress by dread, but to 
stimulate by the inspiration of a great Ideal presented in a form 
of persuasive, almost irresistible attraction; not to create fear, 
but to win love. "God sent not His Son to condemn the world; 
but that the world might be saved through him. God has not 
appointed us for wrath, but that we should acquire salvation 
^ through our Lord Jesus Christ." 

6 We are therefore ambassadors for Christ; as though Grod was 
exhorting through us: "We,* on behalf of Christ, beseech you; be 
reconciled to God." 



23. To reconcile, as the w^ord is used by St. Paul, is to con- 
vince man of God's love, by argument and proof; to revise and 
reverse man's opinion and feeling toward God; to replace his 
ignorance, fear and consequent hatred of God, with knowledge, 
love, and faithfulness unto Rightness. In short, to establish 
his love of God. 

This is the perfection of love, — that we should have boldness 
in the Day of Judgment. There is no fear in love. Perfect love 
casts out fear. Fear has torment, and he who fears is not per- 
fect in love.— 1 Jn. 4:17, 18. 



74 CHAPTER XV 



7 He who knew himself not to have sinned, was, for us, made 
to be sin, that we, "in him," should attain to the Rightness of 
God. Wherefor, we exhort you, as workers together with Grod; 
do not have received this Grace of God in vain. 

Was . . made to be sin. — to suffer, ih an exemplary manner, 
the temptations and penalty of sin. "He bore our sins (iii:5,) in 
his own body on the tree; that we should leave sin and Live 
Right." 

8 It pleased God, that in Christ should dwell all the Divine Per- 
fections; and through him to fully reconcile all things to him- 
self; having made peace through the blood of the cross, thereby 
bringing us to the Father. Christ once .suffered because of sins, 
the Right for the unRight; that he might bring us to God. 

The blood of the cross. — his life of sacrifice. See Notes 6, 
7, 38. 

9 And you, who were once estranged and enemies, in wicked 
thought and deed, yet now he reconciled, in his human body, 
through death, in order that he might present you before God, 
pure, unblemished, and irreproachably, — if, indeed, you wholly 
abide in faithfulness, established and immovable, firmly attached 
to the Hope of the Gospel. 

Attached to the Hope. — the anchor in the storm of doubt and 
discouragement. 



CHAPTER XV. 



THE PRACTICE OF LOVE 

You shall love the Lord your God, in your whole heart, ajid in 
your whole soul, and in all your thought, and with all your 
strength. This is the first and great commandment. And the 
second is equal with it ; You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 
Do this and you shall Live. 

In your whole soul. — making the progress of His Kingdom 
the single and constant object of your desire, without distraction 
(xxiv:2.) by the world (ii:6) of material things. 



NOTE ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^V 75 



24. Neighbor, has practically the sense of fellow-man; the 
person with whom you are thrown in contact in the affairs of 
common life; who is your fellow in the general struggle with 
adversity. (Another word is used for the person who lives near 
you.) 

"Where e're thou meet'st a human form 
Less favored than thine own, 
Remember, 'tis thy neighbor worm, 
Thy brother, or thy son." 

"Alas, it is so much easier to love men while they exist only 
on paper, or quite flexible and compliant in your imagination, 
than to love Jack and Kit who stand there in the body, hungry, 
untoward, jostling you, barring you with angular elbows, with 
appetites and a stupid will of their own." 

Also, one who shows fellow feeling toward another in adver- 
sity. Brother, in the general sense, has the same meaning. 
"Limbs of a body are we sons of men. 
Made from same clay, born of same origin; 
When one limb suffers by misfortunes stress. 
Their fellows will not fare in happiness." 

In the degree, which is a very large one, in which our inter- 
ests are bound up with the interests of our fellow men, we can 
only further our interests by increasing their wellfare. By 
choosing the broadest paths to effect their happiness, we choose 
the surest and shortest to our own. And Love only takes a def- 
inite form as it becomes a practice; as a mere sentiment it evap- 
orates. 

"You cannot bring joy and peace and wisdom to your neigh- 
bor unless you yourself enjoy wisdom, peace and happiness. Be- 
ing always precedes doing; having necessarily comes before giv- 
ing. But it is also true that being is increased by giving. Hoard- 
ing brings loss; using brings greater gain. It is part of the debt 
of love we owe our fellow men to bring them, not gloom and 
shadow and disheartenment, but cheer, and hope, and joy." 

Human life in every sphere, becomes easier and happier and 
more fruitful as men recognize the ties which bind them to each 
other, and learn to dwell together in mutual affection and help- 
fulness. "In union there is strength" is a true saying for man; 
his law is solidarity; and by this law, the wrong a man does to 
others reacts upon himself. 

"God has chosen us all for a work; He has elected us and pre- 
destined us before the foundation of the world, to have a share 
in the advancement of humanity, — and incidentally to work out 



76 CHAPTER XV 



With all your strength. — entire devotion of affection, desire, 
intellect, and ability, concentrated on the one great purpose of 
effectively loving Him who so loves us. 

Equal with it. — having the same object and the same impor- 
tance; like parallel rails of a railway, each essential to the other. 
Our love of God must take the practical form of love for our fel- 
low men, or it is mere sentimentality (19.) 

Your neighbor as yourself. — (24.) Selfishness is natural self 
protection. It becomes sinful when love is confined to self. The 
highest love forgets self (xii:10.) ^The Father loves me because 

1 lay down my soul for the sheep." 

2 And one said, "Who is my neighbor ? " Jesus replied : A cer- 
tain man, going from Jerusalem to Jerico, fell among robbers, 
who, having stripped and beaten him, left him half dead. A cer- 
tain priest, who chanced to go that way, when he saw him, 
passed by on the other side. Likewise a Levite, having come and 
seen, passed by on the other side. 

3 But a certain Samaritan, traveling that way, saw and pitied 
him; and came and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and 
wine. Having put him on his own beast, he brought him to an 
inn, and cared for him. Before leaving the next day, he gave the 
inn-keeper money and said, "Take care of him, and whatever 
more you may spend, I will repay on my return." 

Samaritan. — abhorred by Jews as a heathen, and considered 
a natural enemy (see xiii:l;) yet the Samaritan proved himself 
to be a neighbor by neighborly kindness and fellow feeling. Ac- 
tions speak louder than words. The priest and Levite were pro- 
fessors only. 

4 Which of these three was neighbor to him who fell among 
the robbers? 

5 Let love be without pretense. With all humility and gentle- 
ness, patiently bear with one another in love. Owe no one any- 
thing, — except to love one another. He who loves "the other" 
has complied with the law; for it is condensed and completed in 
this Word: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Love pre- 
vents wrong to your neighbor; therefore love is the whole of the 
Law, 

Except to love. — a debt which can never be satisfied while we 
are dependent on God and man. 



NOTE 24 77 



6 Those who labor ought to assist those who are weak; remem- 
bering the words of the Lord Jesus, "It is more blessed to give 
than to receive." Bear each other's burdens, and so fulfill the 
Law of Christ. 

Assist (or, gather for) those who are weak. — the weakness 
and dependence of man is the bond of society ("we are members 
one of another,") and the opportunity of God and man. 

7 We who are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, 
and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor 
in that which is good for building him up. For Christ pleased 
not himself. 

8 Whoever shall have worldly prosperity, and observe his 
brother (man) in need, and shuts up his kindness from him, — is 
he loving God? Little children, we should not love in theory, nor 
with words, but in deeds and in truth. 

9 When you make a dinner or supper, do not invite your 
friends, nor brothers, nor relatives, nor rich neighbors, that per- 

our own. If we cease from our selfishness and egotism, and 
consent to do the work for which He has made us, then we make 
our election sure." 

"Nature, in placing man on the earth, said to him, *Go, de- 
graded creature, animal destitute of clothing, intelligence with- 
out light, go and provide for thine own wants. It shall not be in 
thy power to enlighten thy blind reason but by directing it to- 
ward Heaven, nor to sustain thy miserable life without the 
assistance of beings like thyself.' And thus, out of the misery 
of man, sprang the two commandments of the law." 

When men act, and think, and speak, and feel, out of a gen- 
erous, merciful, peaceful, kindly spirit, life is to them all bright 
and beautiful. Every scene has a charm, every fresh incident 
an interest. They meet their fellow men "without fear and 
without reproach." They have peace and joy. They are "in tune , 
with the Infinite," in harmony with the Divine Orderf 
"To injure none by thought, or word, or deed; 
To give to others, and be kind to all; 
This is the constant duty of the Good." 

The line between me and my fellow men, which neither should 
overstep, is, like the equator, an imaginary but very real line. It 
is best determined by putting myself in his place, and striking 
an average between my demands of then and now. 



78 CHAPTER XV 



haps they may invite you in return and you may be repaid; but 
when you make a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, 
the blind, who cannot repay you; and you shall be blessed; for 
you shall be repaid at the resurrection of tjie Right. 

Friends. — literally, lovers, in the selfish sense. *lf you love 
those who love you, w^hat Favour have you; do not the tax gath- 
erers (x:7,) the same?" 

The resurrection of the Right. — see .xxi:16, 20. % 

10 Whatever you desire that men should do to you; do likewise 
to them. Judge not that you be not judged; for in what judg- 
ment you judge; you shall be judged. If anyone be overtaken in ^ 
an offense; you who are the spiritual ones, restore such a one, in ' 
a spirit of gentleness and humility; watching yourself lest you 
also be tempted. 

Judge not. — with destructive criticism and condemnation (see 
xi:12. xiii:l.) "Judge not according to appearance, but accord- 
ing to what is Right." < 

"There are two stones we may not dare to cast; 
The stone of stumbling in our brother^s way, 
The stone of judgment at our brother/s past, 
We, who ourselves like sheep have gone astray." 
To suspend our judgment when the evidence is inconclusive 
(as it always is,) is not only to do as we would be done by, but it 
is also to forgive as we would be forgiven. 

"If there be one place in life where the attitude of thfe agnos- 
tic is beautiful, it is in this matter of judging others. It is the 
courage to say, /I don't know. I am waiting for further evidence. 
I must hear both sides of the question. Till then I suspend all 
judgment.' It is this suspended g'udgment which is the supreme 
form of charity." 

Restore such a one. — help him to mend his life, to regain his 
strength, to rekindle his light, to recover his lost likeness to God. 

"Think gently of the erring one, and, let us not forget, 
However darkly stained by sin, he is our brother yet; 
Heir of the same inheritance, child of the self -same God, — 
He has but stumbled in the path we have 'but weakly 
trod.' ' 

"All things are literally better, lovelier and more beloved for 
the imperfections which have been divinely appointed; that the 
law of human life may be Effort, and the law of human judg- 
ment, Mercy." 



CHAPTER XYL 



FAITH, 



'In the Word . . was Light; the true Light, which enlightens 
every man, that all through the Light might have Faith. 

2 God so loved the world, that He gave His Only Son, that every 
one who is faithful to him, need not perish, but may have eter- 
nal Life. God sent His Son into the world not to condemn the 
world, but that the world might be saved through him. He who 
is faithful to him is not condemned; but he who is unfaithful is 
already condemned, in that he was not faithful to the Name of 
the Only Son of God. 

Who is faithful. — who gives the response of Faith to this 
profound evidence of His Love. 

Might be saved. — restored, made whole. Sin has inflicted its 
own punishment in disease and paralysis of the Life. The mis- 
sion of Christ is to restore Life. 

Not faithful to the Name. — not co-operating in his purpose 
(2.) By failure to co-operate with the purpose and power- of the 
Son, in his own healing, he punishes himself . 

3 This is the judgment; that the Light has come into the world, 
and men love darkness more than Light, because their works are 
evil. They shall be condemned who were not faithful to the 
Truth, but who loved unRightness. 

Judgment. — literally criterion, the standard, the test by 
which men are judged. 

4 He who is faithful unto me (or, Him;) comes net into con- 
demnation; . . I will raise him up at the Last Day; . . though 
he die, yet he shall Live; . . shall never thirst; . . shall not 
continue in darkness; . . shall do the works that I do, and 
greater than these; . . is made Right; . . shall not be ashamed; 
. . receives removal of sins; . . and participation among the 
purified by faith. They shall be purified in Truth; having puri- 



80 CHAPTER XVI 



fied their hearts. Out of the heart is faithfulness unto Right- 
ness. 

Though he die. — temporarily, yet he shall Live eternally. See 
xxv:5. 

Shall never thirst. — lack spiritual refreshment. 

Darkness. — (9.) of ignorance, delusion, fear. 

Ashamed. — embarrassed by the failure of his hope. 

Having purified their hearts. — their love (20.) they shall see 
God. Confidence follows Light and Love. Rightness is the ef- 
fect of Faith. Faith is the effect of Love. 

5 In the Gospel, God's Ideal of Rightness is declared, which is 
from Faith into faithfulness. The Right man Lives in his Faith; 
. . in Faith is made Right; . . his faithfulness is credited as 
Rightness; „ . he has peace with God; access to Grace, and Hope 
of Glory. Without Faith it is impossible to please God. 

From Faith into faithfulness. — Faith is the source and meth- 
od. See note to xviii:2. 

6 We received the promised spirit through Faitho You are Sons 
of God through Faith in Christ Jesus. In spirit, out of Faith 
energized by Love, we acquire the hoped for Rightness. Having 
been faithful in the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your salvation, 
you are sealed with the promised holy spirit, which is the earnest 
of our inheritance. 

Sealed . . earnest. — see Note 48. 

7 The object of the Gospel is (to effect) Love, out of a pure 
heart and a good moral judgment, and Faith without pretense; 
. . the possession of the mystery of the Faith in a pure moral 
judgment; having repentance toward God, and faithfulness to 
our Lord Jesus Christ. 

8 Examine yourselves whether you are in the Faith. Prove 
yourselves. Do you not know that unless Jesus Christ is **in 
you," you are not approved? The Grace of God abounds where 
there is faithfulness to and love of Christ Jesus; through whom 
you are redeemed fxom your vain manner of life; who, through 
him are faithful to God, who raised him up from among the dead, 
and gave him glory, that your Faith and Hope might be in God. 

Vain. — valueless, empty of result. 



f : 



NOTfe 25 81 



25. Faith in God, is that compelling confidence in the excel- 
lence of His Word, the wisdom of His Way, the fullness of His 
power, which results in perfect Fidelity (Titus 2:10) and faith- 
fulness to His Will. Though the confidence alone may be em- 
phasized, yet faithful co-operation (the inevitable effect of per- 
fect confidence,) is always inferred. The use of the wholly in- 
sufficient verb "to believe" (belief being only the first stage of 
Faith,) was forced upon the English translators by the absence 
of any English verb of faith. 

"Conviction, were it never so excellent, is worthless until it 
converts itself into conduct. Until profession becomes posses- 
sion, it amounts to but very little. Between the knowing and the 
doing there is a deep gulf. Into that abyss the happiness of 
many a man slips and is lost. There is no peace, no real and 
lasting felicity for a human life until the gulf is closed, and the 
continent of conduct meets the continent of creed, edge to edge, 
lip to lip, firmly joined forever." 

Faith is not profession, or emotional experience, or intellec- 
tual consent; it is not a disposition, an attitude, or an idea; but 
an act of the will, accepting the Word of the Truth as the Law of 
Life^ Love of God and man as the means of Life, and appropri- 
ating the power of God through the reproduction (17) of the 
spirit and life of Christ. It is that positive, intelligent confidence 
in God which is so firmly incorporated into character that it acts 
instinctively and automatically in faithfulness to God. "I, if I be 
lifted up, will draw all men unto me;" — Faith is our cordial re- 
sponse to this influence. 

"Faith, which is . . earnest will to stand 

On Love's side; eager heart to see the Good 

And serve the Good, and hail the Light, and help the 

spreading of the Light; aiming to grow 
Perfect as He is perfect." 

Faith is not surrender, in the common military sense, but 
enlistment. ^ It is not only to trust, (for that is the verb of Hope, 
26.) but it is to entrust one's self as a good soldier, to the Cap- 
tain of our Salvation, "as workers together with God." 

Love is the incentive of Life. Hope (the anchor of the soul,) 
supports the endeavor. But Faith is the energy which effects it. 
Hope waits; but Faith works. 

The expressions, "in faith," "in spirit," "in hope,", "in love," 
suggest the absolute control of certain fixed habits of mind. 

Faith toward God, is to live in the natural relation of a good 
child to a worthy parent; in confidence and faithfulness, through 



82 '^^^^^^^^^^^^^ CHAPTER* XVI 



9 Knowing yourselves to have a better possession awaiting you 
in heaven, do not relax your boldness, which has great recom- 
pense of reward; for you have need of perseverance, that having 
done the Will of God, you may receive the promise. We are not 
of those who draw back and perish; but we are of the Faithful, 
who acquire the object of their desire. In Faith is the basis and 
undertaking of things hoped for; and the exposition of the in- 
visible activities. 

The basis and undertaking. — Faith is the condition and ac- 
tivity which underlies the acquisition of our hopes; through the 
exercise of Faith they are realized. Also, through Faith we per- 
ceive the Divine activities; the -^power of God working in us" 
and directing all things to co-operate for our final good. 

10 Strive in the good contest of Faith. Lay hold on eternal 
Life, unto which you are called. I have striven in the good con- 
test; I have completed the race; I have kept the Faith; and there 
is laid up for me hereafter a crown of Rightness. 

Strive. — agonize; exerting every ability to the utmost. 
^ I have kept the Faith. — Witness my Fidelity. See "keep" in 
Note 2. 

A crown. — the reward of Rightness. See note to xxv:3. 

11 Take up the shield of Faith, in which you will be able to ex- 
tinguish all the burning darts of evil. Put on the breastplate of 
Faith and Love. This is the victory that overcomes the world, — 
our Faith. 

12 Having put away every encumbrance, and the pleasantly 
clinging sin; looking away from these unto Jesus, the originator 
and finisher of our Faith, (who, because of the joy in prospect, 
endured the cross, and having despised the shame, sat down at 
the right hand of God;) let us run with endurance the contest 
lying before us; receiving as the object and prize of our Faith, 
the salvation of our souls. 

The salvation of your souls. — the soundness and health of 
your souls (37) restored; as the athlete sought the soundness 
and health of his body. 

13 Consider it to be wholly fortunate when you are beset by 
various temptations (trials;) knowing that the proving of your 
faith works out endurance; and let endurance be perfectly devel- 
oped, that you may be perfect and complete, in no way deficient. 

Endurance. — gives your Fdith the qualities of stability and 
permanence, "If you refuse to suffer, you refuse to be crowned." 



NOTE 25 83 



14 Faithful is the Word; that if we died together with Christ, 
we shall Live together; if we endure, we shall reign together; if 
we deny him, he will also deny us; though we are unfaithful, he 
continues faithful. He is not able to deny himself. The Favours 
and Invitation of God are not to be recalled. 

If we died together. — to sin, as Christ died. See Notes 4, 50. 

Unfaithful. — see note to xxviil, 2. 

To deny himself. — to repudiate his Word. 

15 Blessed be God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 
through whose great mercy we are "born again" into a Hope of 
Life, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, un- 
to an inheritance, imperishable, undefiled, unfading, kept in 
heaven for us, who are being defended (because of our Faith,) in 
the power of God, unto salvation ready to be revealed in the Last 
Time. 

Born again. — see Note 17. 

UndeHled, unfading. — not filthy money or fading crowns 
(xxv:5.) 

Salyation. — ^not only preservation but wholeness; not only 
power to elfijoy, but to enjoy the whole glory of the Last Time. 

16 In this Hope you rejoice greatly, though for a short present 
time you are grieved in various trials, for the proving of your 
Faith, (much more precious than gold which perishes;) that be- 
ing proved as by fire, you may be found worthy of praise and 
honor and glory at the reappearing of Jesus Christ. Wherefor, 
let those who suffer, (complying with the Will of God, in doing 
good,) entrust themselves to Him, as to a Faithful Creator. 



love. Reconciliation (23) and Repentance (52) are the acts of 
recognizing and entering into this relation. 

Ignorant faith is but credulity and temerity. "I know Him 
in whom I have belfeved." The present life must be "lived in the 
Faith of the Son of God," or the confidence proves to have been 
an empty, vain opinion. "If you know these things, happy are 
you if you do them." 

What is the profit, if anyone says he has faith, yet has not 
works? Such faith cannot save. For as the body, apart from 
the spirit, is dead; so faith (belief only) apart from works 
(faitkfulness) is dead likewise. — Jas. 2:14, 26. 



CHAPTER XVIL 



HOPE. 



Many things have been written for our instruction, that 
through perseverance, and the advice of the Scriptures, we 
might have hope. Christ was raised from the dead and given 
glory for your sakes, that your faith and hope should be in God. 
In Faith is the basis and acquisition of things hoped for. 

Hope. — see Note 26. 

The basis and acquisition. — Our positive confidence in God is 
the basis of Hope; and through faithfulness the things hoped for 
are realized, — Salvation worked out, Rightness established, Life 
acquired, Peace assured. 

2 We are born again into a Hope of Life through the resurrec- 
tion of Jesus Christ; a hope in God, that a resurrection is about 
to be. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are more to 
be pitied than all other men. 

If in this life only. — if there is ho logical hope of eternal Life. 
And yet there is a sense in which in this life only we have hope; 
that is, opportunity of amendment, of washing away sins, acquir- 
ing the soul. Living in the spirit, — through Rightness. 

3 We realize the hope of being Right, in spirit, through faith- 
fulness. Having been made Right, through faithfulness, we 
boast in hope of partaking in the glory of God; we become par- 
takers (according to the hope,) of eternal Life. The proving of 
our perseverance in Rightness works out hope; and proves the 
hope to be not an embarrassing delusion. 

4 The earnest expectation and hope of the whole human crea- 
tion, is that they shall be set free from the decaying slavery of 
sin, into the glorious freedom of the Children of God. In Hope 
we are saved; but hope seen is not hope; for what anyone sees, 
why should he still hope for it? But if we do not see what we 
hope for, then through patience we acquire it. 

We acquire it. — This word describes an active waiting, pre- 
paring to receive, qualifying to enjoy. 

5 We are the (prospective) Children of Grod. It does not yet 
appear what we are becoming; but if it shall appear that we are 



NOTE 26 85 



becoming like Him, we shall see Him as He is. (The pure in 
heart shall see God.) Every one who has this hope in him, puri- 
fies himself, even as God is pure. 

6 We are of the house of Christ, if we hold fast the boldness 
and pride of the hope; through which we draw near to God; 
which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both firm and sure. 
We should hold fast, unflinching, our confidence in this hope; for 
He is faithful who promised. 

The house of Christ. — the family of God on earth, of which 
the Elder Brother is the head; the present blessing, fellowship; 
the inheritance, eternal glory. We retain this relationship, 
against temptation to unfaithfulness, if our hope is "bold and 
proud;" which hope is the anchor of our earnest desire. 

7 May the God of hope fill ydu with all joy and peace in faith- 
fulness; that you may abound in hope, and in power of pure 
spirit; the eyes of your imagination being enlightened, that you 
may know what is the hope of His invitation, and the surpassing 
greatness of His power in us who are faithful. 

The God of Hope. — the source and supply; He inspires and 
fulfills. 

26. Hope is confidence in the promise of God; the expectancy 
which supports the endeavor of Faith; strengthening reliance 
in the working of His Power to fulfill His Plan; perfect expecta- 
tion of the coming of His Kingdom, and the enjoyment of its re- 
wards and benefits by those who have complied with His Will, 
and lived in His Spirit. Abraham "was faithful, hoping against 
hope, that he should become the father of many nations; confid- 
ing in the faithfulness of Him who promised." The ancients 
meant by "hope" what we mean by faith, i. e,, trust; they meant 
by "faith" what we mean by faithfulness. Hope is faithfulness 
in patience; faith is faithfulness in perseverance. Hope and 
trust are the same Greek word. 

"Fortune her gifts may variously dispose. 
And these be happy called, unhappy those; 
But Heaven's just balance equal will appear. 
While these are placed in hope, and those in fear." 

"Man is based on Hope; he has properly no other possession 
but Hope; this habitation of his is named the Place of Hope." 

"God does not scourge His children forward by whips of fear. 
Hope moves on before them, beckons, and allures." 



86 CHAPTER XVIII 



8 Rejoice in hope; the hope of the Gospel; the hope which is 
laid up for you in heaven; — "Christ in you," the hope of glory. 
These three endure: Faith, Hope, Love. 



CHAPTER XVIII. 



THE GOSPEL OF RIGHTNESS. 

God's purpose, and Grace (to accomplish His purpose,) which 
was given us (to be "in Christ") before the ages of time, is now 
fully disclosed in the Gospel, in its. disclosure of our Saviour Je- 
sus Christ, who has disabled Death, and displayed Life and im- 
mortality. The object of the Gospel is (to incite) love out of a 
pure heart and a good moral judgment, and faithfulness without 
pretense; that we should serve in Holiness and Rightness before 
Him all the days of our life. 

Disclosure.- — literally, exhibition. His life is an exhibit of 
God's Ideal of Rightness (27;) of the Grace given to those who 
are striving to be Right; of their power to overcome the paralyz- 
ing effect (Death) of Sin; and to attain to imperishable Life, 
here and now. The Gospel (28) is the medium of this exhibition. 

2 The Gospel of Christ is a power of God unto salvation of the 
faithful; for in it is declared God's Ideal of Rightness, which is 
from Faith into faithfulness. ("The Right man Lives in his 
Faith.") A Rightness of God's design has been disclosed unto 
all the faithful "in Jesus Christ ;" they being made Right 
through His Grace given them, through the liberation from sin 
which is "in Christ Jesus;" whom God set forth to show forth 
His Rightness; that He is Right, and the Rightener of the faith- 
ful; for Christ is the perfection of the law of Rightness to every 
one of the faithful. 

From Faith into faithfulness. — ^from perfect confidence as the 
source, into Fidelity (25) as the means and end; results from 
Faith and is attained through faithfulness. 

Lives in his Faith. — his Life (3) proceeds from, and is in pro- 
portion to the increase and effectiveness of his Faith. 

Christ is the perfection.— his Word is the Rule, and his life 
the demonstration of Rightness. God's requirement is seen in him 



NOTE 27 87 



in its perfection. Man, offering to Divine Perfection the homage 
of his emulation, becomes Right before the Right Judge, loving 
before the Loving Father, faithful to the Faithful and True. 

3 He who knew himself not to have sinned, was made of sinful 
flesh, on our behalf, that "in him," we might attain to the Right- 

27. The V7ord "Right," in its various forms, appears in the 
New Testament 277 times. It is that humanly possible ideal of 
conduct which God purposes that man shall adopt. It is harmo- 
ny with God^s Will; sin and unRightness are discord. 

Rightness consists in acting in accordance with Truth in all 
our relations with respect to ourselves, our fellow men, and to- 
ward God. Goodness is Rightness in which the motive of Love 
predominates. Holiness (where the strict word is used, — not the 
word which means "pure,") is to live in perfect relations with 
God. 

Rightness contemplates enlightenment of the mind through 
the knowledge of the Truth revealed in the 'Word of Truth, which 
is the Light of Life. Cleansing of the hearths love and the souFs 
desire through the Blood of Christ (his Life of Love, of entire 
consecration, infused into bur life.) Purification of the Life of 
the spirit through the power of the Holy spirit dwelling in us. 
Living in harmony with the Word of Truth and the Law of Love. 

"Unless Rightness is beautiful, if it lacks harmony and sweet- 
ness, it has not reached its highest form. The 'beauty of holi- 
ness' is not an empty phrase." 

It is not mere correct action by rule; but a habit of life, in- 
spired by the conscious exercise of the holy (pure) spirit which 
God has given, acting in love. It is not an abstraction, but an 
experience. It is not comparative, but positive and absolute. It 
is the greatest object worthy of human endeavor. The object of 
the human life and teaching of Christ was to demonstrate Right- 
ness. , - 

The termination -eous (Right-eous) is omitted because it has 
the English sense of "containing." (An action is "dangerous" 
when it contains an element of danger.) But the Greek word 
has the positive sense of "being." 

To "justify," is to make Right, in spirit (motive, 33,) will, 
and character. It is not an assumption, but an actual transfor- 
mation; not an excuse on a legal technicality, but the whole life 
being permeated and saturated with Rightness; every activity 
becoming Right. It is not to whitewash, but to wash white. 



88 CHAPTER XVIII 



ness of God. Christ Jesus came to be to us, wisdom from God, 
and Rightness, and purification, liberation from the slavery of 
sin; who himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we, 
having left sin, might live in Rightness; that as he was raised 
from the dead, through the glory (power) of the Father, so we 
should likewise walk in Newness of Life, If Christ is "in you," 
though the body ii^ dead in sin, yet the spirit of Christ in you is a 
source and power of Life, through Rightness. 

That "in him." — Rightness is only acquired through spiritual 
struggle, victory over and subjection of the sinful flesh. It is a 
kingdonf*. of self-control built upon this foundation. Christ was 
the first victor. In faithful reproduction of his victory, we be- 
come Right. 

Came to be to us. — both model and method of acquiring; ex- 
emplifying in his own perfections, for our imitation. 

Having left sin. — see notes to iii:5 and v:7. 

Newness of Life. — Constant approach to the New Life of the 
New Man (17.) 

4 The eyes of the Lord are (approvingly) upon the Right, and 
His ears are attentive to their prayers. God has set a Day in 
which He is about to judge the people of the world in Rightness. 
In the consummation of the age, the angels shall go forth, and 
shall remove the wicked from among the Right. Those who did 
not practice love shall go away into eternal punishment; but the 
Right shall shine forth as the sun in the Kingdom of their 
Father. 

To judge . . in Rightness. — by His revealed standard of 
Rightness; see i:4. 

5 As, conforming to the disobedience of Adam, all became sin- 
ners; so also, by conforming to the obedience of Christ, all may 
become Right. There is no condemnation to those "in Christ Je- 
sus;" who walk not according to flesh, but according to spirit; 
for the Son of God, in a body of sinful flesh, to expose sin, con- 
victed sin in the flesh, (demonstrating) that the requirements of 
Rightness might be fully met by us, who are active, not in the 
flesh, but in the spirit. 

Who walk according to flesh . . spirit. — see Note 35. 

6 The Spirit of Truth will convince the v/orld of sin, and dem- 
onstrate Rightness and judgment; Rightness, because I (the vis- 
ible example,) return to the Father. We, in spirit^ out of faith- 



NOTE 28 89 



fulness, await (or, acquire) the hoped for Rightness; toward 
which nothing avails but faithfulness energized by love. Be re- 
newed in the spirit of your mind, and be invested in the New 
Man, which was designed according to God's purpose, in Right- 
ness and purity of Truth; having put on the breastplate of 
Rightness; abounding in the fruits of Rightness. 

Will convict.^will localize, define, expose the nature, effects 
and presence of sin. See Note 43. 

Be renewed in the spirit of your minds. — continually renew 
your purpose to know the Truth; exercise your Sense of Truth 
(9,) that you may be "transformed by the making new of your 
minds." See vii:4. 

The New Man. — 17) designed "to serve in Holiness and 
Rightness;" see verse 1. 

The fruits of Rightness. — see viii:7. 

7 Inasmuch as God is known to be Right, every one who is born 
of Him must practice Rightness, — even the Rightness of the Son 
of God. Among every people, he who reverences Grod, and works 
Rightness, is acceptable to Him. 



28. A Gospel is a message which informs of a possible -bene- 
fit. The Gospel of Christ is a power unto Salvation, because it 
not only presents God's ideal of what man should be, but it sup- 
plies the necessary knowledge of how to acquire and accomplish 
it. Then Love supplies the inspiration, Hope the support, Grace 
the ability, and through the co-operation of Faith and in the 
exercise of the spirit we are made Right, acquire Rightness unto 
Salvation; — soundness of life, sweetness and energy, wholeness 
and wholesomeness. 

Rightness is never so real as when it finds its illustration in a 
human life. "The safety of minds . . who are unable to love 
God directly, — that is, to discover the Truth, create the Beauti- 
ful, and do what is Right of themselves, — is the loving of some- 
one in whom there shines forth a reflection of the True, the 
Beautiful, and the Good. The majority of mankind require a 
mediator between themselves and God." 

Of the Son, He says, "Thy throne, God, is for ever and ever. 
A sceptre of Rightness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. Thou hast 
loved Rightness, and hated unRightness; wherefor God, thy 
God, anointed (christened) thee with the oil of exultation above 
thy fellows." 



90 CHAPTER XVIII 



Born of Him. — see Note 17. 

Acceptable. — God receives his reverence and Rightness, and 
man receives God's Favour. 

8 Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for Rightness, for 
they shall be satisfied. Seek first the Kingdom of God and His 
Rightness, and all necessary things shall be provided for you. 
Blessed are those who suffer (in endeavor) for Rightness; for 
theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. There is laid up a crown of 
Rightness, which the Lord, the Right Judge, will repay in That 
Day, to every one . ,. who loves him. 

Seek first the Kingdom. — Put yourself under the Rule of 
God, and obey Him in Rightness and Holiness. 

Who suffer. — who agonize in passionate earnestness to ac- 
quire. 

Crown. — see note to xxv:3. 

9 Having been made Right through faithfulness, we have peace 
with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have 
access to the Grace in which we stand fast ; and we boast in con- 
fident expectation of partaking in the glory of God; — we shall be 
partakers, (according to the hope) of Life eternal. Having been 
made Right in his Blood, we shall be saved "through him," from 
wrath; we shall be saved in his life. For those who love God, and 
are in accord with His purpose. He planned that they should be- 
come Christ-like; . . these he made Right; these he also glori- 
fied. 

Peace. — ^not indolence, but harmonious activity in service, 
into which no distraction or fear enters, — having been Rectified 
in Fidelity. • 

In his Blood. — assimilating his virtues (6.) 

He planned. — see xiii:6. 

10 Finally, brethren; whatever things are true, whatever things 
are worthy of reverence, whatever things are Right, whatever 
things are pure, whatever things make for love, whatever things 
speak good; if anything is excellent and if anything is worthy of 
praise, seriously consider these things; . . do these things; and 
the God of peace shall be with you. 

Seriously consider.- — Our charac*ters are moulded by the char- 
acter of the considerations which interest us; which hold our 
thoughts. "Think well; do well will follow thought." "As a 
man thinketh heartily, so is he." We are transformed by the 
renewing of the mind. 



^^ia: 



AFTER XIX 91 



This is the verb of Word, Logic ( 1 ; ) saturate your Logic with 
these things, and you will act accordingly. To saturate the mem- 
ory with Ideals of the True, the Good, the Beautiful; to train the 
mind to Pure and Right thoughts; to fill the "imagination of the 
heart" with love of God and man; to center the Sense and Inter- 
est (soul) in the Highest and Best; to make these things a de- 
lightful habit. ' 

As we fix attention on the thought of anything, the desire to 
do and to possess it grows stronger until it may become the con- 
trolling motive of the Will; and the Will becomes Action, and 
this kind of action stimulates further thought, and this kind of 
thought and action becomes eventually the Habit of Life. Earn- 
estly co-operating with this system, we may think our lives into 
any character; even the Life of God. We speak of the will be- 
ing "free;" but it is the slave of any desire or interest which has 
constant attention. The only freedom is in fixing thought and 
attention on Right desires until they prevail. 



CHAPTER XIX. 



IN CHRIST. 

I am the vine; you are the branches. Every branch, in me, 
that bears fruit, He cleanses it, that it may bear more fruit. You 
are cleansed through the Word which I have spoken to you. 
Abide in me; and I in you. As the branch is not able to bear 
fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine; so neither can you, 
unless you abide in me. Unless anyone abides in me, he is cast 
out as a useless, fruitless branch, and is dried up, and cast into 
the fire, and is burned. 

In me. — see Note 29. 

Fruit. — good works (viii,) the fruits of Rightness. 
Abides in the vine. — drinking the Blood of the Vine; living in 
his Life; partaking of his spirit. 

2 He who is not with me, is against me; and he who gathers not 
with me, scatters. He who eats my fiesh and drinks my blood 
(the Life of the Vine,) abides in me, and I in him. These things 
I have told you that, in me, you may have peace. In the world 
you have trouble; but be encouraged; I have overcome the world. 



92 CHAPTER XIX 



Not with me. — co-operating, — scatters, his opportunities of 
Life. See Note xxix:9. 

Peace. — see note to xviii:9. 

3 I do not make request that Thou (Father) shouldst take them 
out of the world; but that Thou shouldst keep them out of the 
evil. Purify them in the Truth; Thy Word is Truth. For them 
I purify myself; that they may be also purified in Truth; that all 
the faithful may be one; as Thou, Father, art in me, and I in 
Thee; that they may be one in us; I in them, and Thou in me; 
that they may be perfected, into one." 

The evil. — Bring us not into temptation* without delivering us 
from the evil (see note to xxv:l.) Not to leave the world, but to 
overcome the world, making your life a Divine Life; crowding 
out impurity and decay with abundance of life, as the dead 
bough is thrown off from the living tree. 

That they may be one. — united in spirit, not in person. 

4 Whoever shall keep His Word, in him the love of God has 
been truly perfectedc In this we know that we are "in him," He 
who says he "is in him," ought to walk as he walked. Let the 
Truth which you heard from the beginning continue in you, that 
you may abide in the Son, and in the Father, Little children, 
abide in him; that when he appears, we may have boldness and 
not be embarrassed before him at his coming. 

Keep . . walk. — see Notes 2, 10. 

The "saints" are such to the degree that they are "in Christ;" 
living in the Way of Rightness which he declared and exempli- 
fied. They have, in Christ, wisdom from God, Rightness, holi- 
ness, redemption (from slavery to sin,) salvation "through 
Faith, with eternal glory;" promise of Life, present and contin- 
uous. They have riches of Grace (the Favour of God, and Fac- 
ulty given them,) "according to (their acceptance of) the gift of 
Christ." In Christ is the source of advice and encouragement, 
consolation of love, fellowship of spirit, compassion, peace, 
strength and establishment, rejoicing and triumph. 

(Being in Christ is the result of development.) 

5 Being fleshly, not spiritual, you are yet babes in Christ ; little 
children, until Christ is formed in you. God gave some (Grace 
to be) Apostles, and some prophets and evengelists, and some 
pastors and teachers, — for the preparation of the saints for the 
work of service, for the building up of the body of Christ, — until 



v-'5. 



NOTES 29, 30 93 



we shall all attain to the unity of the Faith and full knowledge 
of the Son of God, at a man full-grown, to the measure of the 
stature of the fullness of Christ; that, exercising the Truth in 
Love, we shall have grown up in all things into him; that, com- 
prehending the Truth as it is in Jesus, we shall have put off the 
Old Man, which is decayed by treacherous lusts; being made new 
in the spirit of our minds, and having put on the New Man, 
which, corresponding to the image of Him who originated him, 
is designed in Rightness and Holiness, of Truth. 

Grace to he.- — see Note 55. 

Prophets.- — preachers; see note to xi:2. 

29, One of the central themes of The Divine Message is the 
great responsibility and privilege of being "in Christ." - St. Paul 
uses this expression 66 times. He views the ideal man as one 
who, as the effect of faithfulness in the Word, Fidelity to the 
Will of God, has brought his flesh, his sensual craving, into com- 
plete subjection to his spirit, his Right motive; and whose spirit 
is saturated with the spirit of Christ, until it is no longer the 
self -centered "I" that lives, but Christ who lives in him, to the 
elimination of worldliness, and the transformation of character; 
— having unreservedly and irrevocably merged his life and per- 
sonality into the Life and Personality of Christ. "By faith, we 
are, as it were, lost in him." Such a man is justified — made 
Right, by the spiritual process of becoming "in Christ;" and can- 
not be otherwise. 

30, Two natural laws are contrasted; conditions and powers 
as fixed as the law of gravitation: 1. When the "physical lusts 
and passion have control of the will of the individual, the result 
is the paralysis of the faculties and the decay of the life vdth its 
eternal possibilities. 2. When the Rightness of God, as exempli- 
fied in Christ, is accepted by the mind and absorbed by the spirit, 
and is made the controlling force of the life; when Rightness be- 
comes the life of the spirit of the individual; when the spirit of 
Christ dwells permanently and exclusively in you; — then the 
demoralizing lusts of the flesh are crucified, deadened, disabled; 
and you are set free from the slavery of law No. 1; the faculties 
are revived, the life is intensified, and approaches its glorious 
and God-like possibilities. It is needless to say that this is not 
something that happens to us, but something that takes place in 
us, as the result of our determined endeavors, energized by the 
co-operating power of God working in us. 



94 CHAPTER XIX 



Evangelists. — carriers of the Gospel, missionaries. 

Saints. — see note above. 

Building up of the body.— the organization, the invisible 
Church, the Kingdom of heaven (32;) "by the co-operation of 
every part, building up itself in love." 

The unity. — both harmony and completeness. 

The stature of the fullness. — the image of Christ (17;) the 
Ideal of Rightness (xviii:2;) the complete Christian; having at- 
tained the standard of Christian perfection. 

6 If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, having crucified 
the flesh with the passions and lusts. If Christ is in you, though 
the body is dead through sin, the spirit of Christ is Life, through 
Rightness. You are not living in the flesh, but in the spirit, if 
the spirit of Christ dwells in you ; but if anyone has not the spirit 
of Christ, he is not in him. God has given us eternal Life, and 
this Life is in His Son. He who has the Son (in him) has this 
Life; he who has not the Son, has not the Life. 

Having crucified. — see Notes 38, 51. 

The spirit of Christ is Life.— The motive and power of Life, 
eternal experience of the highest joy, which is established by the 
practice of Rightness. Life in Christ, and life in the spirit, are 
the same. It is by living in the holy spirit, the pure motive 
which was in Christ, that we enter into the life of Christ. Christ 
"became a life-giving spirit" (34.) 

Living in the flesh. — life devoted to gratifying animal appe- 
tites. 

7 My brethren, be strengthened in the Lord, and in the power 
of his might. The power in Christ is Faith energized by Love^ 
As you received Christ, walk in him, rooted and built up in him; 
and confirmed in Faith, abounding in it with thanksgiving. Put 
on the Lord Jesus Christy and take no forethought to gratify the 
lusts of the flesh. 

Confirmed in Faith. — your Fidelity established in confidence, 
increased in power. 

Put on. — see Note 16. 

8 The law of Life in the spirit of Christ Jesus, has set me free 
from the law of sin and death. My flesh is crucified with Christ, 
— yet I live. It is no longer "I;" but Christ lives in me. For me 
to live is, that Christ lives. Decide likewise, to become dead to 
sin, but alive to God, in Christ Jesus our Lord. There is no con- 



CHAPTER XIX -^^^^^^^^^— ^^ 95 



demnation of those vvho are in Christ Jesus; who walk not after 
the flesh, but after the spirit. 

The law of Life, . . of death. — see Note 30. 
"I." — the consciousness of a personality of solely selfish and 
sensual impulse; the Old Man X44.) 
Dead to sin. — see Note 50. 

9 To us there is one God, the Father, out of whom are all 
things; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things; 
and we are all things through him. In all things we are more 
than conquerors through him who loved us. Blessed be God, 
who has blessed us with every heavenly spiritual blessing, in 
Christ; even as He selected us before the foundation of the 
world, to be, in Christ, pure and spotless before Him in love. 

Through whom. — The Word, through whom all things be- 
came; and through the V/ord, the Light, the Way, the Life, we 
may become all things. 

Conquerors. — see Note 31. 

Even. as. — This is the means of obtaining the heavenly bless- 
ings; conforming to the image which God "predestined" before 
the foundation of the world. 

10 We are God's workmanship, created that we should be, in 
Christ Jesus, engaged in good works, in which God before ap- 
pointed that we should be active. Make your hearts a sanctuary 
of the Lord God; having a good moral judgment; and so con- 
ducting yourselves in gentleness and the fear of God's displeas- 
ure, that they may be ashamed who scandalously accuse your 
good manner of life in Christ. 

God's workmanship. — we are that which God made, and pre- 
destined to be active in good works in the spirit of Christ, con- 
formed to the image of him who went about doing good. 

Make your hearts a sanctuary. — or, consecrate Christ as 
Lord in the sanctuary of your hearts. See xxiiiil. 

11 Christ was made perfect in suflPering. I must complete in 
my body what is lacking of the afflictions which he suffered, that 
I may be sufficiently perfected to exemplify the Mystery (rich 
in glory, hidden hitherto) namely: 

CHRIST IN YOU, THE HOPE OF GLORY. 

Wherefor We Admonish and Teach, that We May Present 

Every Man 
PERFECTED IN CHRIST JESUS. 



96 CHAPTER XX 



Admonish and teach. — admonishing to repent, to effect that 
earnest interest of heart and mind in the Better Things of the 
spiritual Life; teaching the Word, the logical statement of what 
is the Life in Christ, — "that your hearts being advised, being 
perfected in love, you may have full knowledge and understand- 
ing of the mystery of God, in which all the treasures of knowl- 
edge and wisdom are hid." 



CHAPTER XX. 



THE KINGDOM. 

Thy Kingdom come; Thy Will be done on earth as it is done 
in heaven. (Christ refuses the kingdoms of this world for the 
Kingdom of heaven;) Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and 
shalt serve Him only. . 

Thy Kingdom come. — (31) May men reproduce on earth the 
peace, through harmony with Thy Will, which prevails in 
heaven (32.) , 

2 The Kingdom comes not with observation; nor shall they say, 
"Look here," or, "See there;" for the Kingdom is within you. 
The Kingdom is not eating and drinking; but Rightness (and joy 
and peace,) in a pure spirit. Fortunate are those who suffered 
for Rightness; for theirs is the Kingdom. Seek first the King- 
dom of God and His Rightness, and all necessary things shall be 
provided for you. How hard it is for those who trust in riches 
to enter into the Kingdom. No one, having laid his hands upon 
the plough, and looking on the things behind, is useful to the 
Kingdom of God. 

Comes not with observation. — God^s rule is not visible, ma- 
terial, political. 

Is within you. — Whether you are in the Kingdom depends on 
whether the love of the King is in you. It is the internal and not 
the external qualifications which secure entrance. It is easier to 
look for a future paradise than to strive to make one now. 

Suffered for Rightness. — agonized to obtain. 

All necessary things. — In the perfect harmony of society 
transformed individually into the image of Christ, suffering on 



NOTE 31 97 



31. All kingdoms are invisible. They are not territory, pop- 
ulation, or revenue. No reliable census or other measurement 
can be taken of them. They are composed of those who, in their 
hearts, love, honor and obey the king. And the king is in honor 
bound to secure for those who co-operate with him, wellfare, pro- 
tection and peace. The world awaited a visible, physical con- 
quest, compelling outward obedience. It came, this conquest, as 
an invisible, spiritual influence; leading, persuading, drawing, 
attracting, by gentleness, helpfulness and love. ^'Love^s slow 
conquest of the stubborn will; free to will wrongly.'' Changing 
men's actions finally; but first changing their hearts and minds. 
(52.) 

CONQUEST. 

I came not to give peace, but a sword. The Word of God is 
as a two-edged sword, living and effective, penetrating to the 
division (disclosure) of the soul and spirit; judging the indigna- 
tions and intentions (passions and schemes) of the heart. They 
overcame through the Blood of the Lamb, and through the Word 
to which they were witnesses, and because they loved not their 
souls in the face of death. He who overcomes shall inherit all 
things; and he shall be my son. All who have been born of God 
overcome the world; and this is the victory that overcomes the 
world, — our Faith. In me you shall have peace. In the world 
you have trouble. But be encouraged; I have overcome the 
world. Greater is that which is in you (the spirit of Truth;) 
than that which is in the world (the spirit of error, delusion.) 

Be not overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Flesh- 
ly lusts war against the soul. I see a force in my senses warring 
against the force of my mind, and leading me captive to the force 
of sin which is in my senses. Do not yield your faculties to sin 
as weapons of unRightness; but devote them to God as instru- 
ments to accomplish Rightness. Christ having suffered in the 
flesh (in his conquest of sinful tendency,) arm yourselves with 
the same purpose; (for him who suffered in the flesh, sin has 
been stepped;) that you will spend the rest of your earthly lives 
guided, not by human lusts, but by the Will of God. I am pursu- 
ing, that I may lay hold of the power of his resurrection, in par- 
ticipation in his suffering, being conformed to his death. 

Put on the armor of Light; . . the armor of Rightness on the 
right hand and on the left; . . the breastplate of Faith and Love, 



98 CHAPTER XX 



account of poverty, physical and mental distress, will be un- 
known. This is visionary, but it is the Vision of Christ. 

3 Unless any one be born again he cannot see the Kingdom. 
Unless one be born out of water and spirit, he cannot enter into 
the Kingdom. Fortunate are those who are sensible of their 
spiritual deficiency, for theirs is the Kingdom. Repent! for the 
Kingdom has come near. 

Born again. — ^into consciousness of the Life of the Spirit (for 
the Kingdom of God "is in a pure spirit.") He cannot grasp the 
Kingdom Idea, because that requires spiritual insight. See 
Notes 9, 17. 

Of water and spirit. — external life cleansed (49,) and inter- 
nal life purified (36.) 

Repent. — see Note 52. 

4 Whoever shall not receive the Kingdom as a child, shall not 
enter into it. Unless you are changed, and become as little chil- 
dren, you shall not enter the Kingdom. Whoever will humble 
himself as a little child, he is greater in the Kingdom. 

As a child. — in simplicity of faith, hope, love; in purity of 
heart. 

5 The works of the flesh are very evident; adultery, unclean- 
ness, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, quarreling, jeal- 
ousies, angry passions, contentions, dissensions, factions, envy- 
ings, drunkenness, carousing, and such things; and they who do 
such things shall not have a part in the Kingdom of God. 

Uncleanness. — ^whatever defiles; whatever stains the purity 
of the Life. See "impurity" in note to xxvi:5. 
Sorcery. — "pharmacy," perhaps poisoning. 

6 If, introduced by the sin of one. Death reigned, (over those 
who sinned in likeness to the sin of Adam;) how much more 
those receiving the gift of Grace unto Rightness, shall reign in 
Life, — ithrough Jesus Christ. For as Sin reigned in Death; so 
Grace may reign, through Rightness, unto eternal Life, — 
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Therefore, do not let sin reign 
in your dying bodies, to obey its lusts; but determine to become 
dead to sin, and aUve unto God, — ^in Christ Jesus our Lord. Hav- 
ing received a Kingdom which cannot be shaken; let us have 
Grace, through which we may serve in a manner well-pleasing to 
God. 



NOTES 31, 32 99 



and the helmet of the Hope of salvation. Take up the whole 
armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, 
and having worked out all things, (salvation — Ph. 2:12; glory — 
2 Cor. 4:17.) to stand. Stand therefor, having put on the girdle 
of Truth (Isa. 11:5;) the breastplate of Right (Isa. 59:17;) the 
shoes of preparedness through the Gospel of Peace (Isa. 52:7;) 
having taken up the shield of Faith, in which you will be able to 
extinguish all the flaming arrows of evil (Ps. 11:2, 57:5, 91:4, 5;) 
also the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit, which is 
the Word of God. 

Suffer hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one 
serving as a soldier entangles himself with worldly matters, but 
devotes himself to pleasing him who accepted him as a soldier. 
The last enemy to be destroyed is Death; . . Death is (to be) 
swallowed up in victory. Thanks be to God who gives us the vic- 
tory, through our Lord Jesus Christ. 

There is a tradition that the strength o( the enemy we kill 
(and eat ? ) enters into us. This is true in character. As we con- 
quer any passionate desire, as we rise superior to any sensual 
impulse, the soul has acquired a degree of strength and self-con- 
trol against the day of temptation. 

What will you be to-day? King or slave? You are like a 
king contending for his own kingdom. 

32. The Kingdom of God, of heaven, is a body of human so- 
ciety whose life on earth is transformed into likeness to the har- 
mony of heaven, by the practice of love, an unselfish, generous 
co-operation of all and each for the good of all. It is the unor- 
ganized, unrecognized body of highminded, heavenly purposed 
people. Its extension is into eternity. 

Heaven is not a place, but a condition. It is the atmosphere 
of love and Peace; the condition in which God dwells; contrasted 
with the world, the condition of selfishness and Fear. It is the 
invisible spiritual place occupied by those who love, honor and 
serve God. 

We are not taught to pray that we may go to heaven, but 
that we may make this world heavenly. "To make some nook of 
God's creation fruitfuler, better, more worthy of God; to make 
some human hearts a little wiser, manfuler, happier, more 
blessed, less accursed! It is work for a god. Sooty Hell of mu- 
tiny and savagery and despair can by man's energy be made a 
kind of heaven; cleared of its soot, its mutiny, of its need to 



100 CHAPTER XX 



The sin of Adam. — following selfish and sensual tendencies is 
inborn in "the flesh of Adam." We inherit the curse through the 
tendency, and suffer from "the fall" as we fall. 

Gift of Grace.- — the Favour of the pure spirit of Truth; the 
knowledge and power to acquire Rightness. 

Dead . . alive. — see Note 50. 

7 His Divine Power has given us all things necessary for Life 
and godliness, in the full knowledge of him who invited us 
through his glory and excellence; and has given us the greatest 
and most precious promises, that through these we may become 
partakers in the Divine Nature, having escaped the decaying 
lusts of the world. 

Invited. — or, appealed to us through his own glorious per- 
fections. 

That through these. — as they are reproduced in our life, 
woven into it, our life is enriched with the Divine Nature. 
"Not content that former worth stand fast,^ 
Look forward, persevering to the last. 
From well to better, daily self -surpassed." 

8 Wherefor, use all diligence to supply plentifully to your 
faith; moral excellence, knowledge, self-control, patient endur- 
ance, reverence, brotherly affection, love. Having these in abun- 
dance you will not be idle or unfruitful in the knowledge of our 
Lord Jesus Christ. He in whom these are lacking, is short- 
sighted, oblivious of the cleansing from his former sins. 

9 Wherefor, be diligent to make your invitation and acceptance 
sure; that you may not stumble, but that there may be awarded 
you an abundant and triumphal entrance into the eternal King- 
dom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 

Sure. — through qualities just defined. "The situation that 
has not its Ideal, was never yet occupied by man. Yes, here in 
this poor, miserable, hampered, despisable Actual, wherein thou 
even now standest, here or nowhere is thy Ideal. Work it out 
therefrom, and working, believe, live, be free. The Ideal is in 
thyself, the impediment too is in thyslf; thy condition is but the 
stuff thou art to shape that same Ideal out of. What matters 
whether such stuff be of this form or that, so the Form thou 
givest the work be heroic, be poetic. O thou that pinest in the 
imprisonment of the Actual, and criest bitterly for a Kingdom 
wherein to rule and create, — ^know this of a truth; the thing thou 
seekest is already with thee, here or nowhere, coulds't thou only 



NOTE 32 101 



10 Walk worthily of God, who invites you into His Kingdom 
and glory. This is the law of the Kingdom which God promises 
to those who love Him ; — You shall love your fellow man as your- 
self. Not every one who says to me, "Lord, Lord," shall enter 
the Kingdom; but he who does the Will of my Father. 

Walk worthily. — be actively engaged in preparation to avail 
yourself of God's Favour offered you. 

11 Let us give thanks to the Father, who has made us compe- 
tent to share in the Light ; who delivered us from the tyranny of 
darkness, and transferred us into the Kingdom of the Son of 
His Love. 



CHAPTER XXI, 



PARABLES OF THE KINGDOM, 



Of Its Gradual Growth. 

The Kingdom of God is as when a man casts seed into the 
earth, and sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts 

mutiny; noble, fruitful labor, growing ever nobler, will come 
forth; God and all men looking on it well pleased." 

The Ideal of the Kingdom is that state of present society in 
which personal lives are so invigorated and active in Truth, Love,, 
Goodness, Purity, that all opportunities are seized and employed 
to improve the physical and especially the moral conditions of all 
the people, with the object of lifting them into knowledge and 
power, self control and self respect, and the exercise of these 
same energies of Love and Goodness. In the degree that this is 
accomplished, the Kingdom comes on earth. 

Human suffering arises mainly from bodily disease and men- 
tal distress; and these can be traced to failure (on the part of the 
sufferer, or some portion of society upon which he is dependent,) 
to comply, through ignorance (trespass,) or willfulness (sin,) 
with the physical, organic, moral, or intellectual laws, which are 
all parts of that Divine Order (1) which has as its object the 
promotion, of human well-being. Salvation, Health. These fail- 
ures and their attendant pains are warnings to the wise. 



102 CHAPTER XXI 

and grows, he knows not how; for the earth brings forth fruit in 
its own manner, — first a blade, then an ear, then the ear full of 
corn. 

Of Its Amazing Increase. 

2 It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of seeds; yet 
when it is sown, it grows up and makes great branches so that 
the birds nest in its shade. It is like yeast which women hid in 
three measures of meal, until all was leavened. 

Of Its Incomparable Value. 

3 It is like treasure hid in a field, which a man having found, 
for the joy of it sells whatever he has and buys that field. It is 
like a merchant seeking precious pearls; who having found an 
extremely precious one, goes and sells all that he has and buys it. 

Of the Necessary Practice of Mercy. 

4 It is like a king who would settle accounts with his servants. 
Having begun to collect, there was brought to him one debtor 
owing $13,000,000; and he, not having the means to repay, his 
master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children, 
and whatever he had. And that servant fell down and prayed to 
him, saying, "Lord, have patience with me and I will repay all." 
And the master of that servant, pitying him, let him go and for- 
gave the debt. 

Owing. — some computations are much higher. This man was 
evidently the administrator of a province (see note to x:15;) 
though the enormous difference in the amounts owed by the two 
servants is intended only to impress the striking contrast be- 
tween the insignificance of the indebtedness of our fellow men 
to us in comparison with the immensity of our debt to God. 

Forgave. — set aside; suspended (54) sentence of punishment, 
which, notice, was afterward executed. 

Whatever may be the meaning of this parable, it is unques- 
tionably the interpretation of that phrase in the Lord's Prayer, 
"Forgive us . . as we. forgive those . ." 

5 And that servant, having gone out, found a fellow-servant, 
who owed him $17.50, and seized him by the throat, saying, "Re- 
pay what you owe me." His fellow-servant fell down at his feet 



CHAPTER XXI 103 



and begged, "Have patience with me and I will repay all." And 
he would not, but threw him into prison until he should repay all 
that was owing, 

6 His fellow-servants were very much grieved, and went and 
told their master; and having called that servant to him, he said, 
"Wicked servant, I released you from all your debt because you 
cried to me. Ought you not to have been merciful to your fel- 
low-servant, as I was merciful to you?" And in his anger, his 
lord gave him over to the extortioners until he should pay all 
that was owing, 

7 In like manner shall my Father in Heaven do to each of you, 
if you do not heartily forgive your brother's trespasses. 

Heartily forgive. — o^it of the heart; for the love of God and 
man, show mercy to those who, through weakness, have been 
faithless to their trust or duty; withhold punishment and sus- 
pend judgment. 

Of the Need of Readiness. 

8 It is like ten Virgins who went to meet the bridegroom, tak- 
ing their lamps. Five of them were Sensible, and five were stu- 
pid. The stupid did not provide themselves with oil, but the 
sensible took oil with them. And while the bridegroom waited, 
they nodded and slept. In the middle of the night there was a 
cry, "The bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him." 

Taking their lamps. — Their light was their ^ contribution to 
the wedding festivities. "You are the light of the World." (iv:4.) 
To have had their lights burning should have been their labor of 
love; but like those who refused a similar invitation, (ix:l) they 
were indifferent, unloving, not in earnest; did not comply with 
the conditions. At the last they were shut out. The bridegroom 
did not recognize them as loving him. 

Stupid. — unFeeling, inSensible, thoughtless. "Evil is wrought 
.by want of thought, as well as want of feeling." 

9 Then all of those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And 
the stupid said to the sensible, "Give us some of your oil, for our 
lamps are going out." But they said, "Perhaps there will not be 
enough for all. Go rather, to those who sell, and buy for your- 
selves." As they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those 
who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door 



104 CHAPTER XXI 



was shut. Afterwards the other virgins came, saying, "Lord, 
Lord, open to us." But he answered, "I do not know you." 

10 Watch therefore, for you do not know the day nor the hour 
when the Son of man comes. 

Watch. — be alive, alert, interested, thoughtful, keenly Sensi- 
ble (19,) ready to serve and able to help. 

Of Responsibility for Opportunity. 

11 It is as when a man, leaving home, called his servants and 
delivered his property to them,. To one he gave five talents, to 
another two, and to another one; to each according to his ability; 
and immediately he went away. He who had received five tal- 
ents, traded with them and made five other talents. Likewise he 
who had received two, gained two more. But he who had re- 
ceived one, dug in the earth and hid his Lord's money. 

He gave. — He trusted them with Grace; ability and opportu- 
nity. "Skillfully to make use of opportunity; that is where my 
proper business begins. To improve the golden moments of op- 
portunity and catch the good that is within our reach is the 
great art of life. In the end we shall be judged, not alone by 
what we have done, but by what we could have done." 

Dug . . and hid. — His object was personal safety, not faith- 
ful service. He had no affectionate interest in his master, or in 
the accomplishment of his master's purpose. 

12 After a long time the lord of those servants comes and col- 
lects their accounts. He who had five talents, brought five 
other talents, saying, "Lord, you gave me five talents. See, here 
are five others which I have gained." And he said to him, "Well 
done, good and faithful servant. You were faithful with a few 
things; I will set you over many things. Enter into my joy." 
He who had received two talents, said "Lord, you gave me two 
talents. See, here are two others which I have gained." And 
he said to him, "Well done, good and faithful servant. You were 
faithful with a few things; I will set you over many things. En- 
ter into my joy." He who had one talent said, "Lord, I know you 
to be a grasping, pitiless man, reaping where you did not sow, 
and gathering what you did not thrash; and being afraid, I hid 
your talent in the earth. See, you have your own." 

Grasping . . pitiless. — an exacting, severe, arbitrary, even 
capricious man; the mistaken opinion men had of God, until He 
sent His Son to reconcile (23) them. 



CHAPTER XXI 105 



13 And his master replied, "Wicked and lazy servant. If you 
knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather what I have 
not threshed, you ought to have placed my money with the bank- 
ers, that I might have received my own with interest. Take the 
talent from him, and give it to him who has the ten talents. For 
to every one who has, shall be given, and he shall have abun- 
dance; but from him who has not, shall be taken that which he 
has. And throw this useless servant into the darkness outside; 
(there shall be remorse and indignation.") 

The bankers. — those v^ho are qualified to employ the talents 
of others and put them to good use. 

Every one who has. — ^faithfulness, Sensibility, affectionate 
earnestness in service; shall be given — a suitable reward, joy, 
Life. See same expression in i:14. 

Abundance. — of joy (see verse 12.) "I came that they might 
have Life, and have it abundantly." "He who is not faithful to 
the Son, shall not see Life." 

The Problem of the Prosperity of the Wicked, 

14 It is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; and while 
he slept, his enemy sowed tares. When the wheat came up, then 
appeared also the tares. And the master said, "Do not gather 
the tares lest you uproot the wheat with them. Let them grow 
together until the harvest; and then gather the tares first, and 
bind them in bundles to burn them, but bring the wheat into my 
storehouse." 

Tares. — a weed resembling wheat. Men whose Rightness is 
only pretention, counterfeit, evil in heart. 

Let them (alone.) — same Greek word as "forgive" in Lord's 
Prayer and elsewhere. 

15 It is like a drag-net cast into the sea, and gathering of every 
kind; from which, when it is filled and drawn up on the shore, 
they collect the good, and the bad they throw away. 

16 So shall it be at the completion of this age. The Son of man 
shall send forth his messengers, and they shall gather all that 
cause stumbling, that practiced lawlessness, and shall cast them 
into the furnace of fire, (there shall be remorse and indigna- 
tion;) but the Right shall shine forth as the sun in the Kingdom 
of their Father. 



106 CHAPTER XXI 



Lawlessness. — disregard of His Will (13.) 

The furnace of fire. — see xxiv.lS and Note 40. 

As the sun. — Christlike, as the Sun of Rightness. "Herein is 

love perfected; that we should have boldness in the Day of 

Judgment." 

17 Then the King shall say to those on his right hand, "Come, 
blessed of my Father, share the Kingdom prepared for you from 
the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me; 
I was thirsty and you gave me drink; I was a stranger, and you 
received me into your home; I was naked, and you clothed me; 
sick, and you cared for me; in prison, and you supplied my 
needs." 

18 Then the Right will a.sk, saying, "Lord, when did we see you 
hungry, and fed you; or thirsty, and gave you drink; or a stran- 
ger, and took you in; or naked, and clothed you; sick, or in 
prison, and came to your relief?" And the King will say to 
them, "Inasmuch. as you did these things for one of the least of 
these brothers of mine, you did them for me." 

When did we see you hungry and fed you ? — "It is an impor- 
tant point, that the Good forgot that they had done their duty, 
and the bad forgot to do it." 

19 Then he will say to those on the left hand, "Go from mej, 
you who are condemned, into the eternal fire which has been pre- 
pared for the devil and his servants; for I was hungry, and you 
did not give me food; I was thirsty, and you did not give me 
drink; I was a stranger, and you did not take me in; naked, and 
you did not clothe me; sick, and in prison, and you did not supply 
my needs." 

20 Then they also will ask, saying, "Lord, when did we see you 
hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, 
and did not minister to you?" And he will answer them, "In as 
much as you did not (show kindness) to the least one of these 
(brothers of mine,) neither did you to me." And they shall go 
away into eternal punishment, but the Right into eternal Life. 

Eternal punishment. — or, perhaps, an indefinite period of 
painful correction. 

But the Right. — What divided those people? What practice 
in their human lives assured eternal joy to some, and the failure 



b 



NOTE 33 107 



to practice it brought misery to others ? Kindness. Love. See 
Isaiah 581 

"It is the little acts of kindness, the little courtesies, the de- 
termination to add nothing, not so much as a passing sigh even, 
to the great total of man's unhappiness; the disposition to be 
accommodating, to be helpful, to be sympathetic, to be unselfish, 
to be careful not to wound the feelings, to be charitable to the 
weaknesses of others, to be considerate, — ^these are the things 
which added up make Goodness. It is the little disputes, little 
fault-findings, little insinuations, little reflections, sharp criti- 
cisms, fretfulness and impatience, little unkindnesses, slurs, lit- 
tle discourtesies, bad temper, that create discord and evil." 



CHAPTER XXII. 



SPIRIT, 



God is spirit; and those who worship Him, must worship in 
spirit and in Truth. You are God's temple, and the spirit of God 

33. The word spirit, "pneuma," (neuter gender,) means "the 
breath of God," (2 Th. 2:8.) as distinct from soul, "psuche," 
(feminine gender,) which is the breath of man. It also means 
"wind," air in motion, which the ancients considered to be ths 
breath of God, and recognized as an intelligent energy, the great- 
est invisible motive power. Jn. 3:8. — The wind (pneuma) blows 
where it wills, and you hear its sound, and you do not know 
where it comes from, nor where it goes. So is every one who is 
born of the spirit (pneuma.) 

Every man lives in two spheres. He is a combination of god 
and beast; of spirit and soul; living in both the invisible and the 
visible worlds. 

"Our lives are scenes of constant toil and strife. 

Of opposite attractions and desires; 

The craving senses crying for more life, 

And the more noble instinct that aspires." 
In the higher sphere of spirit, he is capable of perceiving (9,) 
Truth, the mind of God, revealed in the Word of the Truth (1;) 
and exercising Love, the nature of God. God is spirit. God is 



108 ' CHAPTER XXII 



dwells in you. Your body is a temple of the holy spirit, which 
you have from God; a habitation of God in spirit. The spirit of 
glory and of God rests upon you. Glorify God in your body and 
in your spirit, which are God's. We know that He abides in us, 
from the spirit which He has given us. 

Spirit. — see Note 33. 

Worship in spirit and in Truth. — by living in His spirit of 
Love, and by the practice of Truth. "True worship, in the esti- 
mation of our God and Father, is to care (intelligently and sym- 
pathetically) for the widow and orphan, and to keep one's self 
undefiled from the world." 

"To worship rightly, is to love each other , 
Each smile a hymn, each kindly deed a prayer." 

The spirit of God dwells in you. — The spirit of God is the life 
of God, for "God is spirit." As we appropriate the spirit of 
God, we live in the Life of God. 

Rests upon you. — waiting to be possessed. 

2 The love of God has been poured in our hearts, in the holy 
spirit which was given us. Because you are Sons, God sent forth 
the spirit of His Son into your hearts; and the spirit bears wit- 
ness with our spirits that we are Children of God. The spirit is 
the first-fruits of our adoption; the pledge of our inheritance; 
the guarantee of our liberation from the slavery of sin. 

Adoption . . pledge. — see Notes 22, 48. 

3 If you love me, keep my commandments; and I will request 
the Father, and He will give you another Adviser, who may re- 
main with you always; the spirit of Truth; the holy spirit which 
the Father will send in my name; which will teach you all things, 
and guide you into all Truth. 

Adviser. — see Note 12. 

In my Name. — having my powers; to accomplish my purpose. 

4 That which is born of the flesh, is flesh; and that which is 
born of the spirit, is spirit. It is the spirit which makes alive; 
the flesh obtains nothing for us. The words which I have spoken 
to you are spirit and are life. Be active and earnest in spirit, 
and do not indulge the lusts of the flesh; for the flesh desires 
contrary to the spirit, and the spirit contrary to the flesh. These 
are antagonistic to each other. 



NOTE 33 109 



Truth. God is Love. He who lives in Love, lives in God, and 
God in him. 

The soul is the intelligent, motive force of our animal, self- 
ish, sensual life, the "life of the flesh," active and interested only 
in the gratification of appetites, evil in will, inevitably dying 
through the natural process of decay inherent in organic sub- 
stances. Yet the spirit depends on the soul (37) for animation 
and interest. It avails itself of all the bodily faculties, and is 
largely dependent on their soundness and efficiency. 

The spirit is the separate intelligent motive force given by 
God to each human being to be the means and power by which 
he is to create a Divine Life in himself (3,) thereby transform- 
ing (17,) himself into the Image of God. Spirit is the motive of 
all will and action which rises above self and sense. The Life in 
harmony and fellowship with God is wholly in spirit; its present 
reward is peace beyond comprehension; its duration is eternal 
(34.) "Grace, mercy and peace shall be with you who are (liv- 
ing) in Truth and Love." 

The spirit in man is the spirit of God, the Holy Ghost. In 
the "natural man," the man "living in the flesh," active and in- 
terested only in his animal, sensual life, the spirit is dormant, 
"unborn," "unclean," polluted, as the air in a close room with 
decaying substances, though one in quality with the general air, 
is defiled, and must be purified by replacing with pure air, — so 
God offers us the opportunity of possessing in its purity and 
being guided by His holy (pure) spirit of Truth and Love. In 
the degree that we have this possession and are under this guid- 
ance, we are (living) "in spirit," "filled with spirit." 

The purer and more holy the spirit, the purer is our percep- 
tion of Truth and our exercise of Love. The impurities imposed 
on the spirit by sensual life are crowded out, eliminated, re- 
placed by fullness and intensity of Truth and Love. 

Every one has at least a faint idea of the existence of this 
spirit in him, a feeling that he possesses the possibility of a Bet- 
ter, Blessed Life; that: 

" Tis human fortune's happiest height to be 
A spirit, melodious, lucid, poised and whole." 

This Sense (9) of spirit, (separate from the Sense of the 
flesh, — see verses 10-12, and Note 35; — the power of thinking in 
its separate mind,) in the degree in which it is developed by In- 
terest, Attention and Purpose, has powers of discerning, with 
constantly greater clearness, the invisible facts and powers, the 
characteristics of the Divine' Life: Truth, Rightness, Virtue, 



110 CHAPTER XXII 



Is flesh. — has all of the disabilities of flesh; has no power of 
producing Life; is doomed to decay. Rom. 7:5. — When we were 
living in the flesh (self -centered,) the passions of sins were al- 
ways working in our faculties to produce death. 

Is spirit. — ^has all of the powers and eternal possibilities of 
spirit. "In the spirit is Life, through Rightness." 

Obtains nothing. — has no inherent powers of effecting any- 
thing of permanent value. 

The Words are spirit. — see note to ii:2. 

5 He who comes after me will baptize you in holy spirit. Un- 
less any one be born anew of water and spirit, he cannot enter 
the Kingdom of God. Repent! and having been baptized in the 
name of Jesus Christ, unto removal of sins, you will receive the 
gift of holy spirit, which God gives to those who obey Him. 

He will baptize (49.) — The work of John was to cleanse the 
minds and hearts; the work of Christ to purify (sanctify)* the 
spirits. 

Born anew. — see Note 17. Repent (52.) 

6 Who speaks a Word against the Son of man, he may be re- 
leased from it. But whoever speaks against the holy spirit, he 
shall not be released from it, neither in this time, nor in the com- 
ing time. He who sets aside the endeavor for purity, sets aside 
God, who gave us the holy spirit to this end. 

Speaks against. — resists; Acts 7:5., blasphemes, expresses an 
existing contempt and antagonism. To oppose holy spirit with 
contempt is an irreparable loss. "In every realm nature with- 
draws her gift from him who misuses and profanes it; this is the 
unpardonajble sin. Use is life; neglect is atrophy and death; the 
inner light fails; ^Our lamps are going out.' " 

Purity. — see Sanctification (36.) 

7 We receive the promised spirit through Faith. Salvation is 
in spirit made pure and faithfulness in Truth. According to His 
mercy He saved us; through washing of "being born again" and 
making new in pure spirit. May the God of Hope fill you with 
all joy and peace in faithfulness; that you may be abounding in 
Hope, in the power of pure spirit. 

8 God has given us a spirit of power, of love, and of sound 
Sense. Where the spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. What- 
ever a man may sow, that also shall he reap. He who sows to 
his own flesh, from the flesh shall reap decay. But he who sows 



NOTE 33 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^» 111 



I Faith, Hope, Love, Goodness, Purity, Courage, Duty, Self-sacri- 
fice, . . all the attributes of Perfection, the "beauty of holiness." 

Like all other faculties, it requires education, both in theory 
land practice, along the conventional lines of acquiring knowledge 
tof the Truth, purifying and invigorating the instrument of per- 
•ception (iv:7,) employing actively and effectively that which is 
acquired, infusing it into the life, making these practices auto- 
matic and habitual as soon as possible, handing the details over 
to this involuntary and irresistible force. 

Like all other faculties, it grows by exercise; that is, by the 
exercise of Grace (55,) which is spiritual faculty; by the co-op- 
eration of Faith (25,) having the support of Hope (26.) By this 
joint-partnership, Grace is increased, Faith is strengthened, and 
Peace is assured. There is a spiritual love (20,) distinct from 
sensual love. The will, which is separate from either soul or 
spirit, may be controlled by either, but is naturally controlled by 
the senses. New Birth (17) is the awakening of spiritual con- 
sciousness. The New Man is the ideal of spiritual attainment. 
The nourishment of spirit is the Word of God (iii:8-16;) His def- 
inite expression of Truth. 

Spirit is sensitive to influence. It may be excited, refreshed, 
grieved, quenched, insulted, troubled, etc. 

Spirit is subject to development. "The child (Jesus) was 
strengthened in spirit." The man "Jesus (after the discipline of 
his temptation )^ came in power of spirit." "They are blessed 
who realize their deficiency in spirit (and mourn because of it; 
they shall be advised,) for of them is the Kingdom of heaven." 
We should serve in newness of spirit; be earnest in spirit; filled 
with spirit.— Mt. 5:3, 4. Rom. 7:6. 12:11. Eph. 5:18. 

John the Baptist, Jesus, Peter, Stephen, Paul, etc., were 
"filled with spirit" in the sense that they were fully and exclu- 
sively exercising the holy spirit in the government of their lives 
and were energized by its powers. The gifts of grace are facul- 
ties of spirit. The Kingdom of God, and the New Covenant, are 
in spirit. The Life of the spirit, is the eternal Life. 

Certain good spirits (in the common sense of motives) are 
suggested; good qualities of spirit which we should acquire; a 
willing spirit;' unity of spirit among ourselves,^with Christ; the 
spirit of Christ; of holiness, of sons of God; of Life, Truth, Wis- 
dom and revelation of the knowledge of God, Love, Faith, Glory, 
Grace, Power, Meekness, sound Sense; a renewed spirit of mind, 
etc. 



112 CHAPTER XXII 



unto the .spirit, from the spirit shall reap Life eternal. The fruit 
(product) of the spirit is Love, Joy, Peace, Patience with others, 
Kindness, Benevolence, Faith, Gentleness, Self-control, . . Right- 
ness and Goodness and Truth. 

Freedom. — deliverance, liberation, redemption from the slav- 
ery of sin (46, 47.) through the pow^er of Love and sound Sense 
(19.) 

Who sow^s to his own flesh. — If you sow in the field of indul- 
gence of your sensual desires, you will reap the decay of your 
faculties, of your Life, "Is your body your god ? its comfort and 
pleasure your religion ? Then very soon your god will be a rot- 
ting mass, with no throne but a coffin, and no worshipers but 
worms." The recoil of sin is deadly and awful. Its penalties are 
imposed on body, brain, soul and spirit. Also, in these "mem- 
bers," repentance, forgiveness, salvation must take place. 

Life eternal. — see Note 34. 

9 We speak the wisdom of God in mystery; the hidden wisdom 
which God planned before the ages, that it should be the means 
of our glory. "Things which no eye saw, nor ear heard, which 
came not into the loving imagination of man; which God has pre- 
pared for those who love Him," — are revealed to us through His 
spirit ; for the spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. 

The spirit searches . . the depths of God. — There is a princi- 
ple of the spirit, superior to the order and system which controls 
the faculties of the flesh, by which it is enabled to surpass the 
limitations of the natural mind, and participate in the thought of 
God. When the consciousness is thus elevated to the spiritual 
plane, it separates itself from the conditions to which it natural- 
ly belonged, and by a mysterious power, joins itself to the Divine 
Nature, with which it blends and mingles. 

10 Only by the powers of his spirit can man discern the facts 
and possibilities of his own nature; and only in the power of the 
God-given spirit can he recognize the Divine possibilities with 
which God has Favoured him. Only in proportion to the devel- 
opment of our spiritual powers are we able to comprehend and 
discriminate that which is spiritual. The sensually developed 
(self -centered) man cannot receive the G^d-given spiritual 
things, — they are tasteless to him, — and he cannot know them, 
because they are spiritually deduced. 

Deduced. — concluded from contrast and comparison, by an- 
alysis and combination; "syncriticized." 



WOTES 33, 3^ 






Other spirits we should avoid : the spirit of the world, of error 
(jdeceit, deceiving,) of timidity, of slumber, of slavery, etc. The 
responsibility of distinguishing between spirits is impressed: 
"ponfide not in every spirit, but prove the spirits, whether they 
ate from God/' "You do not realize what sipiY-it you are of." — 
wpiat kind of motive you have acquired as the ruling habit of 
yiur mind. — Lk. 9:55. 

34. That the spirit is the immortal part of man, is inferred 
in: Lk. 8:55. — Her spirit returned. Mt. 27:50. — He released the 
spirit. Lk. 24:46. — Having cried with a loud voice, Jesus said, 
"Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit." And having said 
this, he expelled the spirit. Jn. 19:30.— He gave back the spirit. 
Acts 7:59. — "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." In the analogy of 
death and the resurrection to the seed which is sown, and decays, 
and its life-principle enters into new forms: 1 Cor. 15:44-49. — 
In the resurrection of the dead, the individual soul, decayed, dis- 
honored, powerless, is sown; the individual spirit, imperishable, 
glorious, free and powerful, is raised. There is (now) an indi- 
vidual (whole) soul, and an individual spirit. (A body is the 
separate whole of anything, whether visible or invisible.) The 
first man, Adam, became a living (animal) soul; the last Adam, 
a making-alive spirit. But the spiritual is not first in order ; but 
the sensual (soulual,) then the spiritual. The first man (in the 
order of our experience) is out of earth, made of dust; the sec- 
ond man is out of heaven. According as we bore the image made 
of dust, we shall bear the heavenly image. But flesh and blood 
(Lev. 17:11; LXX. — The soul of flesh is in the blood.) cannot 
receive a share in the Kingdom of God, or that which decays in 
that which is imperishable. 2 Cor. 5:1-5. — We know that when 
our earthly tent is dissolved, we have a God's building in heaven 
not artificial but eternal; and, that this dying body shall be swal- 
lowed up by Life. — God is giving us the pledge (48) of the spirit. 
See 1 Cor. 5:5. 

35. If the one object of your walk in life is to indulge the 
appetites of your body, your feelings (19) become more and 
more sensitive to the 'body's demands, and less and less to the 
spirit's needs; to the Sense of the spirit (9.) The result is sin, 
opposition to the Will and intention of God. The end of the road 
is death, paralysis of the Life of the spirit. The body without 
the spirit is dead. In the -proportion that a man becomes sen- 
sualized, he becomes despiritualized. But if your serious, cen- 
tral object is to recognize and satisfy the interests of the higher. 



114 CHAPTER XXII 



11 The spiritual man (sharing the mind of Christ,) indeed sees 
through all things; and he is superior to mere human judgment. 
If you are guided by the spirit, you are superior to human dog- 
mas. 

12 Those walking according to flesh, are Sensitive to the things 
of the flesh; while those walking according to spirit, are Sensi- 
tive to the things of the spirit; and they do all the things that 
are Right. The Sense of the flesh is unto Death, for it resists 
God, it is not serving the law of God, nor can be; for they whose 
Sense is in the flesh, cannot please God, But the Sensitiveness 
of the spirit in leading to Life and peace. 

Walking according to flesh . . spirit, — see Note 35. 

Cannot please God. — ^^"What separates us from God, and from 
participation in the Life of God? Is it not a matter of Taste, of 
Feeling? The fact that we are not pleased in the things that 
please God?" 

13 You are not living in the flesh, but in the spirit, if indeed the 
spirit of God dwells in you; and if anyone has not the spirit of 
Christ dwelling in him, he is not "in Christ." But if the spirit of 
Christ is dwelling in you, though the body is dead because of sin, 
yet in his spirit is Life, through Rightness. 

If the spirit of God dwells in you. — if you have permanently 
established the spirit of God in control of your will, to advise 
(12,) purify (36,) and strengthen it. 

Though the body is dead. — though the corporation (xxiv:8,) 
organization of faculties, is paralyzed; yet in the spirit there 
remains the possibility and power of Life. 

14 If the spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is dwell- 
ing in you, He will create Life in your dead body by means of 
His spirit which dwells in you. So your obligation is not to the 
flesh, to be conscious of its desires only; for in that case you are 
about to die. But if, by the activity Of the spirit, you put to 
death the appetites of the body you will have Life. 

You put to death. — become unconscious of (50.) When one 
king supplanted another, to be on the safe side he put the other 
king to death. It is a figure of entire subjection. 

15 The power of the spirit and of the life **in Christ Jesus," 
released me from the power of sin, and from Death which is the 
end of sin. He who is united to the Lord is one spirit with him. 
The service of the spirit is in glory; the service of Rightness is 



NOTE 35 115 



in glory. They who are "of Christ," have crucified the flesh with 
the passions and lusts. If our Life is in spirit, in spirit we 
should be regularly advancing. 

Have crucified. — see Note 51. 

16 We do not cease praying, and definitely requesting, that you 
may be filled with the knowledge of His Will, in all wisdom and 
spiritual understanding; that you may be strengthened by His 
spirit in the Inner man; that God may give you the spirit of wis- 
dom and insight, through knowledge of Him; that the eyes of 
your mind being enlightened, you may know what is the Hope of 
His invitation, and the surpassing greatness of His power in 
those who are faithful. 

Spiritual understanding. — see Note to vii:5. 

The Parable of the Spiritual House Unoccupied. 

17 When the unclean spirit is gone out from a man, it goes 
through waterless places, seeking rest, and does not find it. Then 
it says, "I will return to my house from whence 1 came," and 
having come, finds it unoccupied, swept, and put in order. Then 
it goes and takes seven other spirits more evil in nature** than it- 
self, and entering in, they dwell there. And the last state of that 
man is worse than the first. 

Unclean spirit . . it. — any motive which defiles; see note 
to 26:5. Spirit is always in the neuter gender, — even the Holy 

nobler life of the spirit, you become more sensitive to those in- 
terests; you become more and more Eight, and the end of the 
road is Life and peace. More than that; you are attaining to the 
Nature of God, Who is Spirit, Love, Light. 

The spirit may have, should have, as keen and eager tastes 
and feelings for the Right, the Truth, the Beauty of Holiness, as 
are the sensuous tastes and feelings of the most cultured Aes- 
thete. To appreciate and appropriate the "altogether lovely" 
should be the supreme passion. ' 

The artist, day by day, year in and year out, perseveres in his 
work, and finds delight enough in the beauty he creates. And 
shall not the "worker together with God" strive vdth the same 
hearty interest to make his knowledge and his love approach the 
Knowledge and the Love of God? "Those who strive daily, vdth 
earnestness and perseverance, to know more, to love more, to be 
more spiritually beautiful, — they are the chosen ones; and all 
others, though they sit on thrones, are but the crowd." 



116 CHAPTER XXIII 



Ghost. At that time there were believed to be incalculable num- 
bers of individual unclean, or evil spirits. They avoided water. 
In this tradition may be partly the origin of the rite of baptism. 

Last state is worse. — This word has the sense, of conquered, 
enslaved. To be cleansed and purified from evil spirit is not 
enough. We must be filled with holy spirit; "baptized in water 
and holy spirit." Ps. 51:10-12. — Create in me a clean (pure, Mt. 
5:8.) heart, God, and renew a Right spirit within me. Cast me 
not away from Thy presence, and remove not Thy holy spirit 
from me. Restore to me the joy of Thy presence; establish me 
with Thy governing spirit. 

Emptiness cannot save a man. Goodness is positive, active. 
There is no such thing as passive goodness. No method of eject- 
ing evil is so effective as to keep all the faculties busy in doing 
good. "Be not overcome of evil ; but overcome evil with good." 



CHAPTER XXIII. 



SANCTIFICATION. 

Hallowed be Thy Name! As He who invited you is holy, like- 
wise be holy in all your conduct; sanctified in spirit. Pursue 
peace with all; and holiness, apart from which no one shall see 
the Lord. 

Hallowed be Thy Name! — (36) May Your Name, as indicat- 
ing Your nature (Spirit, Light, Love, Holiness, which is Perfect 
Purity,) be held in profound reverence; and may Your Will 
(Your Kingdom of Light and Love, in spirit, in purity,,) be ob- 
served with perfect obedience and established with loyal earnest- 
ness. "There should be such an aweful sense of the Purity of 
His Love, and the Rightness of His Will, that every impurity of 
ours, every meanness, every shuffling compromise, will stand in 
startling and horrid contrast to the holiness, the Goodness, the 
pure white Truth, of God." 

Sanctify . . in your hearts. — Make your heart a Place of 
Purity, a worthy dwelling of the Lord in spirit. See Isa. 8:13, 
14. — Make your heart a sanctuary of God. (xix:10.) 

No one shall see. — The pure in heart shall see God. Every 
one who has this hope purifies himself as He is pure. 



NOTE 36 117 



2 •Christ loved the church, and gave himself wholly for it, that 
he might sanctify it, having cleansed it by baptism in the Word; 
that it might be holy and blameless. Sanctify them in the 
Truth; Thy Word is Truth! For them I sanctify myself; that 
they also may be sanctified in Truth; that all may be one, as 
Thou Father, art in me, and I in Thee, that they may be one 
(united) in us. I commit you to God, and to the Word of His 
Grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you a part 
among the sanctified in faithfulness to God. 

3 Christ was designated Son of God, in power, according to his 
spirit of holiness, by resurrection from the dead. We should 
cleanse ourselves from every defilement of flesh and spirit; per- 
fecting holiness in fear of God. You were made holy, you were 



36^ The word which is generally translated "holy," ^'sancti- 
fied," means pure in essence and nature, that is, in spirit, — ^with- 
out defilement or decay of sin. Other words define purity or 
cleanness, of heart (imagination; The pure in heart, etc.,) and 
of soul (desire; Purify your souls in obedience to the Truth, 
through the spirit. You are clean through the Word. The Blood 
of Jesus Christ cleanses from all sin.) Both words are found 
in combination in verses 2, 3. 

The spirit of God is holy; and this holy spirit, the spirit of 
pure Truth and Rightness, God has given to man, offered for his 
acceptance, to dwell in him and be his Adviser (12) and source 
of Life. 

To be holy, is to be devoted to God, because it is an approach 
to the nature of God, which is one of perfect purity. The lambs 
offered for holy sacrifice were required to be pure and without 
blemish suggesting that purity of life and Rectitude of conduct 
which is the only sacrifice acceptable to. God. Hence the word 
"holiness" describes the humanly attainable standard of purity 
in spirit; and "sanctification" the process of purifying the spirit 
from the defilement of sin. 

^ The saints (xix:4) were those who were striving for holiness, 
spiritual purity through perfect possession of holy spirit. The 
brethren in Rome are addressed as "beloved of God, invited to be 
saints." Those in Corinth as "The sanctified in Christ Jesus; in- 
vited to be saints." In Philippi and Colosse as "saints, in 
Christ." He shall come to be glorified in His saints, in That Day. 
■—2 Th. 1:10. ^ 



118 CHAPTER XXIII 



made Right, in the spirit of God. In spirit, out of faith, we are 
realizing the expected Rightness, 

Christ was designated. — That he was the Son of God, having 
the holy spirit of God in perfect purity, was powerfully designat- 
ed by his resurrection. Acts 10:38. — God anointed (christened) 
him with holy spirit and power, and he went about doing good 
and healing. 

4 It is the purpose of God that you be "in Christ Jesus," who 
became to us wisdom from God; both holiness, Rightness, and 
release from the slavery of sin. I advise you, in consideration 
of the mercy of God, to present your entire selves a living sacri- 
fice, holy, well-pleasing to God, which is your logical service. As 
you formerly yielded your faculties in slavery to uncleanness 
and disobedience; now give them in service to Rightness, unto 
holiness; the end of which is Life eternal. 

Who became to us. — see xviii:3. He became what we are, 
that we might become what he is. 

Slavery. — absolute, exclusive service. See xxvii:5, 6. 

5 We beseech you to strive to conduct yourselves so as to 
please God, and to persevere, considering His earnest desire for 
your holiness; that each of you should know to firmly hold his 
own vessel (the receptacle of spirit) in holiness and honor, not 
in passion of lust, as do the nations who do not know God. For 
he who sets aside the summons of God to holiness, frustrates, not 
the work of any man, but of God, who gave us the holy spirit to 
this end. 

6 We have had fathers of our flesh who disciplined us, and we 
respected them; how much rather should we be in subjection to 
the Father of our spirits that we may Live! For He disciplined 
us for our advantage; that we should be partakers of His holi- 
ness. All discipline seems, at the time, to be not joyous but 
grievous; but afterwards it yields the peaceful fruits of Right- 
ness to those who are exercised in it. 

Discipline. — see xiiiilO. 

Peaceful fruits. — ^fruits full of peace. 

7 If anyone shall have purged himself from unRightness, he 
shall be an honored vessel, sanctified and serviceable to the Mas- 
ter; who chose us, before the foundation of the world, to be holy 
and blameless before Him, in love. May God help you to increase 



CHAPTER XXIV 119 



and abound in love, toward each other and toward. all; that your 
hearts may be found established blameless in holiness before our 
God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Before the foundation of the world. — ^when God made man to 
be in His image. In man^s spirit, its purification, lies man's ca- 
pacity for God-likeness. 

8 How holy must be your conduct and reverence, in anticipa- 
tion of the coming of the Day of God; when the burning heavens 
shall be dissolved and the elements shall melt in great heat. But 
we expect a new heavens and earth, according to His promise; 
the abode of Rightness. Wherefor be diligent to be found by 
Him in peace, undefiled and blameless. 

"0, guard the gate of attention; it is the Sublime Portal; and 
let nothing be permitted to enter which has not been submitted 
to this test: Only the Most Pure." 

1 Th, 5:22. — Prove everything, and hold fast to that which is 
good. Hold yourself apart from everything that is evil. Job 
27:28. — Godliness is wisdom, and to hold yourself apart from 
that which is not good is understanding. 



CHAPTER XXIV. 



SOUL. 



The sensual (soulual) man receives not the spiritual things 
of God, for they are tasteless to him. If you have bitter zeal and 
contention; this is not heavenly wisdom, but earthly, sensual 
(soulual,) devilish. Ungodly lusts are of the soul. Fleshly lusts 
war against the soul. 

Soulual. — see Note 37. 

Spiritual things. — Love, Goodness, Purity, etc. (33.) Sen- 
suality blights spiritual insight. 

2 Be not distracted in your soul, as to what you shall eat, or 
what you shall drink. Is the soul no more than food? Many are 
conducting themselves as enemies of the cross of Christ; whose 
god is the stomach, whose Sense is of earthly things, whose end 
is destruction. If anyone comes to me; unless he hates his own 
soul, and bears his Cross, he cannot be my disciple* 



1 



120 CHAPTER XXIV 



Distracted. — divided in purpose; disorganized in will; pur- 
suing opposite paths (luxury and Rightness) at the same time, 
which, being impossible, your consideration is drawn away from 
the "one thing needful,'^ the main object and necessity of the 
nourishment of the spiritual and enduring Life (iii:9.) James 
(4:8.) urges the "double-souled" — desiring both God and the 
world — to purify their hearts, to center their hearty interest in 
the desire for Rightness. 

No more than food? — ^has it no higher desires? 

The Cross. — see Note 38. 

Sense is of earthly things. — see verses 10, 12, and xxii:12. 

3 Those who are "of Christ," have crucified the flesh with the 
passions and lusts. Our Old Man was crucified with him, that 
the organization for sin might be disabled, that we should be no 
longer enslaved to sin. He who died from sin has been made 
Right. I have been crucified with Christ; yet I live. No longer 
is it I; but Christ lives in me. The life in the flesh which I now 
live, I live in Fidelity to the Son of God, who loved me, and de- 
voted himself for me. 

Our Old Man. — the "natural, selfish disposition (44.) See 
New Man (17.) 

Organization for sin. — the body, the corporation of the senses 
of the flesh, co-operating in a conspiracy to sin. 

Died from sin. — see Note 50. 

No longer is it I. — see Note 47, and xix:8. 

4 The good shepherd lays down his soul for the sheep. The 
Son of man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his 
soul for the liberation of many souls. Because he laid down 
his soul for us, we ought to lay down our .souls for the brethren. 
I do not hold my soul dear to myself. We were pleased to give 
you, not only the Gospel, but our own souls. 

To give his soul. — see v:5, 6. xii:8. 

I do not hold my soul dear. — too precious to give; selfishly re- 
serving my faculties for personal pleasure. 

5 Behold I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves; be- 
come, therefor, as Sensitive as serpents, as harmless as doves. 
. . Brother will deliver up brother to death. . . You will be 
hated by all because of my Name; but he who perseveres to the 
end shall be saved. . . You should not fear those who kill the 
body, but are not able to kill the soul; but you should fear him 



NOTE 37 121 



37. The popular expression "the immortal soul," really re- 
fers to spirit (1 Cor. 5:5,) which is the immortal part (34.) The 
soul is the sensual, selfish Self; the (animal) life of the flesh, of 
the senses of hearing, seeing, feeling, taste and smell; the sum 
of the intelligent activity of these senses, — consciousness; the 
source of Desire; of Interest, Attention, Animation; the Renter 
of the experience of physical pain, mental distress, and pleasure, 
— and consequently of personality, "the ego," as subject to pain 
and pleasure. It is the creative principle of life within man; the 
mother of the New Man. 

The soul is the soil in which the spirit grows, and from which 
it is projected into eternity. 

" — a soil which breeds, 

Sweetest flowers, or vilest weeds; 

Flowers lovely as the morning light, 

Weeds deadly as the acQnite; 

Just as the heart inclines." 
The soul is mortal; but the effects of the soul, what it was, 
and what it did not give, upon the spirit are immortal. No 
strong, pure spirit has developed in a life of indulged and sickly 
senses. "Whoso, shaking off the yoke of flesh, lives lord, not 
servant of his lusts; set free from pride, passion, from the sin of 
^self/ — toucheth tranquility." 

"Keep thy soul's large window pure from wrong; 

That so, as lifers appointment issueth 

Thy vision may be clear." 
The adjective of soul (soulual) is four times translated "nat- 
ural," and twice "sensual." Beasts have souls (Rev. 8:9, and 
often in the Old Testament.) 

The soul is, after all, an animal, stupid and near-sighted, and 
must be held in check by the leash of the highest logic. It is a 
valuable slave, but like all slaves, if made a master, it is an irre- 
sponsible despot. To which shall we give rule? the spirit (of 
God,) or the animal soul? Only one is capable of eternal sur- 
vival. 

Man is made up of body, soul and spirit. They are interde- 
pendent. The health of the spirit depends on the soundness of 
the sense-life; and this, in turn, on the health of the body. The 
final wellfare of all depends on the rule of a Pure spirit, holding 
in subjection the lusts of the flesh, the sensual desires of the soul. 
These desires have as their natural object the preservation of 
the individual and the perpetuation of the race. For example; 
appetite for food insures the proper nourishment of the body; 



122 CHAPTER XXIV 



who is able to destroy body and soul in Gehenna. He who does 
not take up his cross and follow after me, is not worthy of me. 
He who shall have found his soul, shall lose it ; and he who shall 
have lost his soul, because of me, shall find it. 

Able to destroy body and soul in Gehenna. — (40.) Those who 
"kill the soul" are those who gratify it to its detriment and de- 
struction. No one can injure your spiritual life by violence; but 
beware of the insiduous, destructive effect of luxury and indul- 
gence. 

"War destroys man; but luxury mankind; 

It ruins both the body and the mind." 
Take up his cross. — see Notes 38, 51. 

He who shall have found his soul. — who shall have found his 
delight in the exclusive gratification of his selfish desires, avoid- 
ing every kind of pain, sacrificing ^the future for the present, and 
others for himself. He who loves his present pleasure with a 
passionate affection, and devotes himself wholly to the enjoy- 
ment of it,, — will lose it through excess of greediness. The fac- 
ulties of sense, intensely engaged in physical gratification, lose 
their power to gratify, and only the gnawing desire, growing 
ever more insatiable, remains. 

"Desire is not extinguished by enjoyment; 

Fire is not quenched by offerings of oil; 

But blazes with increased intensity." 
One sip is all we may enjoy from any goblet of delight. Pleas- 
ure given to others, returns to bless the giver. Pleasure directly 
sought, slips through the fingers. An indulged soul means a 
dissipated (lost,) diseased personality; its powers to realize and 
seize the Better Things decayed by a natural reaction, lost by a 
natural decay, they atrophy, waste away. The appetites had 
their way at the cost of the Life, the vitality of the soul, — and 
spirit. A sound and vigorous appetite is an inestimable privi- 
lege; but it is a loan, not a gift. It is to be used; but there must 
be no capitulation. 

But he who shall have voluntarily lost, deprived himself of 
pleasure in his senses, merging it in the common interest and 
wellfare, through taking up the cross of self-denial, and pursu- 
ing the higher and better satisfactions of spiritual life, the Life 
of Love (38,) will find, discover, acquire the powers and benefits 
of his soul, — admiration, . interest, enthusiasm, gratification in 
pursuit and enjoyment of possession, — vitalized and invigorated; 
hi§ appetites sharpened and quickened by denial. 



NOTES 37, 38 123 

eating gratifies the sense of taste; license is the natural tenden- 
cy of every sense; too great indulgence ends in disease, and de- 
feats the original purpose, and body, soul, and spirit are weak- 
ened. The only force capable of disciplining the senses to such 
normal use as will conserve all of the triune powers, of subordi- 
nating the license of the soul to the Law of God, — resides in the 
spirit. 

38. To "hate," "lay down," "give one's soul;" and to "bear," 
"take up" the cross, are negative and positive forms of the same 
idea, — to renounce whatever gratifications are prejudicial to 
one's Higher Life, or to the general wellfare; to take up the du- 
ties of "ifiuth and Love, however painful, in the interests of oth- 
ers, and of the whole Order; with reaction to the advantageous 
discipline of the soul; "killing" (in the extravagant language 
common at that time; see Note 50.) the power and demands of 
the lusts which are natural to it. 

The cross, by its form, suggests struggle, conflict. Its parts 
are in violent opposition; implying that our duty and best inter- 
ests are at cross purposes with our inclinations and desires. It is 
the continual witness of "him who pleased not himself." Its 
form also represents human character; a horizontal, earth-con- 
forming part firmly bound to an upward-pointing, heaven-aspir- 
ing part; the sensual supporting the spiritual; the spirit uplift- 
ing the soul. It stands for Jesus' life of sacrifice; his perfect 
faithfulness to God and duty. No victory of the cross, from first 
to last, has been without struggle and suffering. Behind all that 
is good in us, are heroisms and denials. Our crucifixion is to nail 
our selfishness to the cross; to conquer and subdue the appetites 
and passions which are decaying and destroying our immortal 
Life. 

"It is a great art in life to learn to let things go; to let the 
right thing go; the useless and the harmful thing; to pay the 
price — without a murmur — ^for the future benefit of lasting 
worth. Abstaining so as really to enjoy, is the very perfection 
of reason." 

"We rise by the things we put under our feet; 
By all we have mastered of good and gain; 
The pride deposed, and the passion slain, 
And the vanquished ills that we hourly meet." 



•^^r 



124 CHAPTER XXIV 



6 If any one wills to come after me, let him deny himself, and 
let him take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever may will 
to preserve his soul, will lose it; and wh-oever will lose his soul, 
because of me, shall find it. For what is man profited if he gain 
the whole world at the cost of losing his soul! Can a man buy 
back his soul with things? 

Come after me. — If any one is determined to come after me. 
— to be what I am, that he may go where I am going, — let him 
restrict his desires, and deprive himself of every sensual pleas- 
ure which weakens any faculty, which pollutes or impedes the 
stream of spiritual Life; taking up his cross (daily, — Lk. 17:33.) 
and following my Word and example. For whoever may deter- 
mine to preserve his sensual organization that he may enjoy it 
exclusively, continually, selfishly, — shall lose it,, — in the same 
sense as note preceding, and the balance of the verse in the same 
words and sense. 

7 Unless the grain of wheat shall fall into the ground and die, 
it continues alone; but if it dies, it produces much fruit. Who 
(selfishly) loves his soul, destroys it; but who hates his soul in 
this world, shall guard it, unto life eternal. 

.Unless the . . wheat shall . . die. — The soul being the life of 
the flesh, like the seed, if preserved in its present form, produces 
nothing of permanent value. "The flesh profits nothing." "Ev- 
ery branch . . not bearing fruit . . withers and is thrown into 
the fire." But if it dies— to self (39;) loses itself out of self,— 
its energy is thrown into the production of a new and more am- 
ple form of Life. 

Who hates his soul. — regards it with suspicion, animosity, 
because of its treachery; luring him to self-destruction; the in- 
siduous enemy of his higher Life and peace. 
"That coward with pathetic voice. 
Who craves for rest, and ease, and joys; 
Myself, — arch traitor to myself." 

Shall guard it. — as a valuable prisoner; a hostage, having the 
power to procure for him eternal Life. 

8 That which you sow, is not that body which shall be harvest- 
ed. God gives it a body as he has willed. So is it in the resur- 
rection of the dead. That which is sown decays; that which is 
raised is imperishable. That which is sown is the individual 
soul; that which is raised is the individual spirit. Flesh and 
blood cannot share in the Kingdom of Gk)d. # 



NOTE 39 125 



Body. — any separate, individual whole, whether living or not, 
whether visible or invisible. 

9 Purify your souls in obedience to the Truth, through the 
spirit. We are of those who, in Faith, are acquiring the soul. 

Acquiring. — (48) little by little, the powers of the soul; es- 
tablishing its integrity, its unity, its moral freedom and self- 
control. Lk. 21:19. — In endurance you shall create (produce out 
of disorder,) your souls. The invisible things which complete a 
soul are woven into it through the activities of Faith. 

The Parables of The Lost Soul. 

10 Take care and guard yourselves against covetousness ; for 
the abundance of anyone's life is not out of his material posses- 
sions. The ground of a certain rich man produced well. And he 
considered, saying, "What shall I do? for I have not room in 
which to store my produce. I will remove my barns and build 
larger ones, and store in them all my produce and good things; 
and I will say to my soul. Soul, you have much good things laid 
up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, enjoy yourself 
selfishly." 

Good things. — (hence, "goods.") things which administer to 
luxury. 

Enjoy yourself selfishly. — the same word which describes the 
conduct of the rich man in verse 12. "The God-given mandate, 

39. "Hope not the cure of sin till self is dead. 
Forget it in love's service; and the debt 
Thou cans't not pay, the arlgels shall forget." 
"Selfishness may be called the center and source of sin. It is 
selfishness that robs, cheats and lies; that leads to every form of 
intemperance; that speaks the cruel word; that refuses to love." 
"Love took up the harp of life, and smote on all the chords 

with might; 
Smote the chord of Self, that, trembling, passed in music 
out of sight." 
"To see, to feel, to do the highest duty, makes a man. But to 
see it, feel it, and refuse to do it, undoes him. If a man refuse, 
and purchase some comfort, some prosperity, a few creeping 
years, at the price of love, and honor, and faith, what shall it 
profit him; for he has undone his soul, blasted his character, 
blasphemed the spirit, lost his life." 



126 CHAPTER XXIV 



Work thou in well-doing, lies mysteriously written in our hearts, 
and leaves us no rest night or day, till it be deciphered and 
obeyed; till it burn forth in conduct, a visible, acted gospel of 
freedom. And as the clay-given mandate. Eat thou and Be Fill- 
ed, at the sajne time persuasively proclaims itself through every 
nerve; — must there not be a confusion, a contest, before the bet- 
ter influence can become the upper?" 

"Ill fares the land; to hastening ills a prey. 
Where wealth accumulates, and men decay." 
"He who pays for wealth a price which impoverishes his soul, 
will realize his mistake when the glittering treasure slips out of 
his nerveless grasp, and he goes out of this world without a 
penny." 

11 But God said to him, "Senseless one, this night your soul is 
demanded of you." So is he who treasures for self only, and is 
not rich toward God. Wherefor, I say; Be not distracted in your 
soul, as to what you shall eat; for the soul is more than food. 

Demanded. — You were false to your trust and responsibility 
of using your "goods" to establish many souls in health, and 
your own soul as the servant of your spirit. 

"How shocking must thy summons be, O Death, 
To him who is at ease in his possessions; 
Who, counting on long years of pleasure here. 
Is quite unfurnished for the life to come." 
Rich toward God.^ — in Good works; see viii, and 1 Tim. 6:18. 
Distracted. — see verse 2. What the soul shall become is in- 
finitely more important than what will please it. Prov. 1:32. — 
The ease of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of 
fools shall destroy them. "Who follows pleasure, pleasure slays; 
God's wrath upon himself he wreaks." 

12 A certain man was rich, and he was clothed in purple and 
fine linen, and continually pleased his Senses in splendor. And 
there was a certain poor man named Lazarus, who laid at his 
gate, being covered with sores, and desiring to be fed with the 
crumbs which fell from the rich man's table. 

Pleased his senses. — indulged himself in a sumptuous man- 
ner; made it his every-day business, — concentrating his faculties 
and opportunities on this one thing with "shining" success; de- 
voted his life to the exclusive development of his soul body, 
which perishes in the grave. 1 Tim. 6:9.— Those who determine 
to be rich, fall into temptations and a snare, and many ignorant 



NOTE 40 127 



and blasting lusts, which sink men in destruction and eternal 
loss. 

A certain poor man^ — deprived of opportunity of gratifying 
his senses. 

Lazarus. — meaning, Helpless, or, God is my Helper. 

Crumbs. — pieces of bread with which those at the table wiped 
their hands alid threw to the dogs. 

13 The poor man died; and he was carried away by the angels 
into the bosom of Abraham. The rich man died also, and was 



40. Hades, — ^the grave, 1 Cor. 15:55, and commonly in the 
Greek Old Testament. See Rev. 1:18. 6:8. 20:13, 14. Acts 2: 
31. — David spoke about the resurrection of Christ, — that his soul 
was not left in Hades, nor his flesh saw decay. Condition of de- 
cay of life, of destruction, infered, Mt. 11:23. 16:18. The word 
translated "torment," designates the process of liberating pre- 
cious metals from dross in a furnace. 

Gehenna, was the valley where the refuse of Jerusalem was 
thrown, with quantities of brimstone; where the fire burned con- 
tinually, and worms were always present on the edges. It is the 
present Hell of unrestrained desire, becoming constantly more 
craving and insatiable, — a worm which never dies and a fire 
which is not quenched. 

Fire is a figure of the process of purification; burning out the 
dross of sensual accumulation, whether here or hereafter. Where 
there is no indestructable residue of spiritual accumulation, the 
result is complete destruction. Though the fire is eternal and 
unquenchable (for the judgments of God are without repent- 
ance,) yet there is no inference that the individual experience is 
eternal. 

Water cleanses outwardly; fire purifies inwardly. 1 Cor. 3:13. 
—The work of each shall be disclosed, for that Day will declare 
it, because it is revealed in fire; and of what sort the work of 
each is, the fire will prove. Rom. 2:8, 9. — He will crush in burn- 
ing anger every soul of man that works evil. 2 Th. 1:7-9. — In 
the Day of the revelation of the Lord Jesus, from heaven with 
the angels of his power, in a flaming fire, he will deal out justice 
to those who knew not God to serve him, who did not barken to 
the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, who shall suffer the penalty 
of eternal destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from 
the glory of his power. See xix:l. xxi:14, 16, 19. xxviii:3. 



^•'..■■i'\r.,^^frii 



1 



128 CHAPTER XXIV 



buried; and in Hades, having lifted up his eyes, being in tor- 
ment, he sees Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 

Bosom of Abraham. — sharer of the heavenly rev^ard of Faith- 
ful Abraham, and high in his favour. See Jn. 13:23. 

Hades, — being in torment.- — (40.) also, the remorse of wit- 
nessing the destruction, in the purifying fires, of all his life had 
created, — ^his poor, self -centered, fleshly personality. 

14 And he, crying out, said, "Father Abraham, have mercy on 
me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in 
water and cool my tongue, for I am suffering in this flame." But 
Abraham said, "Child, remember, how fully you received good 
things In your lifetime; and Lazarus, in like manner, evils. Con- 
sequently, he is now comforted, and you suffer. And besides all 
this, between us and you has been fixed a great chasm, so that 
they who desire to pass from here to you, or from you to us, 
cannot." 

Good things. — see verse 10 and note. 

A great chasm. — of past opportunity, neglected and forever 
lost. 

15 And he said, "I beseech you. Father, that you will send him 
to my father's house, that he may testify fully to my five broth- 
ers, that they do not come into this place of torment." But 
Abraham replied, "They have Moses and the prophets; let them 
hear them." And he said, "Father, Abraham, will they not re- 
pent if one went to them from the dead?" And he said to him, 
"If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, they would not 
be persuaded though one should rise from the dead." 

16 You have heard that it was said to your forefathers, "You 
shall not commit adultery;" but I say to you, that every one who 
looks on a woman to lust for her, has already committed with 
her in his heart. If your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out 
and throw it away; for it is profitable for you to enter into Life 
one-eyed, rather than having two eyes, to be thrown into the 
Gehenna of fire. If your hand or your foot causes you to stum- 
ble; cut them off and throw them away. For it is better for you 
to enter into Life lame or maimed (sensually) than having two 
hands or two feet, to be thrown into the eternal, unquenchable 
fire, where their worm dies not, and the fire is not quenched. For 
every one shall be salted (purified and preserved) with fire. 

Your eye. — the avenue of sensual desire. 
To stumble. — to fall into temptation. 



NOTE 42 129 



One-eyed^ — partially deprived of power to gratify your 
senses; rather than that your body (total of your senses) be 
thrown into the Hell of insatiable desire. See Note 40. 

Hand or foot. — the "grasping" faculty, greed; the foot "walk- 
ing in the flesh" (35.) 

Cut them off. — same idea, "put to death," xxvi:5. 

CHAPTER XXV. 



TEMPTATION. 

Bring us not into temptation without delivering us from the 
evil. The Lord knows how to deliver those who reverence Him 
out of temptation; and to keep the unRight unto a Day of judg- 
ment, to be punished; — especially those who are active in defil- 
ing lusts of the flesh. Every one is tempted by his own lusts 
being allured and trapped. 

Bring us not into temptation (42) without. — We do not ask, 
in the Lord^s Prayer, for exemption from trial, but for power 
and help to overcome. Jn. 17:15. — I do not request that Thou 
shouldst take them out of the world, but that Thou shouldst keep 
them from the evil. 

42. To tempt, is to subject to trial; with the intention of 
causing to stumble; or, to teach to walk without stumbling; or, 
to prove faithfulness. Heb. 11:17. — In Faith, Abraham, being 
tempted, offered up Isaac. 

The temptations of Christ (Mt. 4. Lk. 4.) were: — 

1. To prostitute his Divine powers to gratify his fleshly ap- 
petites. "Man shall not live upon bread alone, but in every Word 
of God." 

2. To obtain worldly power and glory by compromise with 
evil, recognizing it as the ruling power in the world. "You shall 
worship the Lord your God, and shall serve Him only." 

3. To make a test of God's faithfulness, for the selfish grati- 
fication of his vanity, — ^for popularity. "You shall not tempt 
(try out) the Lord your God." 

In that he suffered, having been tempted, he is able to help 
those who are tempted. — Heb. 2:18. 

Every metal has its f usable point; an exact degree of heat at 
which it will yield. Confronting every man is some kind of 






130 CHAPTER XXV 



2 Watch and pray, that you do not enter into temptation; for 
the spirit is in earnest, but the flesh is weak. He who thinks he 
is able to stand, let him take heed that he does not fall. Only 
common temptations have fallen upon you; and God is faithful, 
who will not permit that you be tempted beyond your ability, 
but with the temptation will provide the way out of it, and that 
you may be able to carry it. 

Enter into temptation. — ^fall undei; its power. "Our power to 
resist temptation, like our power to resist an infectious disease, 
depends upon our condition of spiritual health. When the New 
Man is not developed, the Sense of Right is not strong, the 
moral tone is weak, and the mind susceptible to evil suggestions, 
we are an easy prey to the 4:reacherous lusts. A man may go on 
for years living a life outwardly respectable, but inwardly un- 
fortified. One day, unexpectedly, circumstances conspire to try 
him; and before he can call in any kind of help, either from with- 
in or without, he finds himself confronted with the crisis of his 
life. All avenues of retreat are closed upon him, and he is shut 
up to an immediate decision, — and what the decision tvill be, will 
depend inevitably upon the character of all his previous de- 
cisions." 

3 Consider it to be wholly fortunate when you ace beset by va- 
rious temptations knowing that the proving of your Faith works 
out endurance; and let endurance be perfectly worked out, that 
you may be perfect and complete, deficient in nothing. Fortu- 
nate is the man who endures temptation; because, having been 
proved, he shall receive the crown of Life, which the Lord has 
promised to those who love Him. 

Having been proved. — also approved, he shall receive the 
prize (as a successful athlete, — "Every one who strives in the 
foot-race perfects self-control. They do so to obtain a perish- 
able crown; but we, for an imperishable crown.") of eternal 
Life. 

Endurance. — "We congratulate ourselves in affliction, know- 
ing that affliction works out endurance, and through endurance 
we are proved, and the proof confirms Hope." Sufferings and 
trials are knowledge, through the one sure way of experience. 
"Affliction is the wholesome soil of virtue; 
Where patience, honor, sweet humility, 
Calm fortitude, take root and flourish strongly. 

It gives mankind occasion to exert 
Their hiddeii strength, and throw out into practice 



f 



NOTE 42 131 



Virtues that shun the day, and lie concealed 
In the smooth seasons and the calms of life." 

"Adversity exasperates fools, dejects cowards, draws out the 
faculties of the wise and industrious, puts the diffident to the 
necessity of trying their skill, cures the insanity of conceit, awes 
the opulent, and makes the idle industrious." 

4 For a short present time, if it must be, you are grieved in 
various trials for the proving of your Faith, (much more valua- 
ble than perishable gold;) that, being proved as by fire, you may 
be found worthy of praise, and honor, and glory, in the Day of 
the Revelation of Jesus Christ. Do not be astonished at this fire 

temptation, perhaps unknown to him, which, if presented in the 
right form, and at the right time, will prove irresistible, will 
reduce every glory of his soul and every power of his life to such 
corruption as is possible to them. 

No temptation can corrupt a man, but that to which he yields. 
Each time he yields, he loses a part of his s61f -respect, his self- 
control, his power of resistance. Each time he resists, these 
powers are strengthened. Hence the conclusion: That the 
temptations of life are Divinely appointed Tests; that they may 
be helps rather than hindrances, not stumbling blocks but step- 
ping stones. 

"Why comes temptation ? But for man to meet, 
And master, and make crough beneath his feet, 
And so be pedestaled in triumph." 
"In trials the wise man finds correction and discipline; in sor- 
row and suffering he gathers courage, knowledge, and the best 
practical wisdom." 

"Within the human heart there is a longing, a desire. 

To tamper with forbidden things, as children play with 

fire; 
To question laws immutable; to wish that wrong were 

right; 
To grasp the unattainable in darkness or in light. 
We linger at the poison cup to take just one sip more; 
We haunt the way that leads us to the open prison door; 
We hang upon the lip that blasts and blights our lives, 

and when 
Fate has us in its grasp — we pause; — but seldom until 

then." 



132 CHAPTER XXV ^ 



which is taking place in you for your temptation; but rejoice as 
you participate in the sufferings of Christ; for you shall rejoice 
exulting, in the Revelation of his glory. 

Proved as by fire. — 

"Let thy gold be cast in the furnace; 

Thy red gold, precious and bright. 

Do not fear the hungry fire, 

With its caverns of burning light; 

And thy gold shall return more precious, 

Free from every spot and stain; 

For as gold is tried in the fire 

So the heart must be tried by pain." 

5 We are not discouraged, though our outer man is decaying, if 
the inner man is being made new day by day. For the momen- 
tary light affliction, works out for us an exceeding surpassing 
dignity of glory, when we consider the invisible rather than the 
visible; for the visible is for now, but the invisible is for ever. 

Inner man. — see note to xii:6. 

Invisible . . visible. — When we consider spiritual and eter- 
nal rather than sensual, material, temporary values. Only in 
the spirit of Truth is the power to recognize true values, un- 
prejudiced by passion or sensuous appeals. The indulgence in 
selfish and sensual pleasures is often due to a lack of apprecia- 
tion of the possibilities of the highest pleasures. "You shall 
know the Truth, and the Truth shall set you free." 

This is the awful delusion; that the visible should seem to be" 
the permanent, and the invisible the passing, the unreal; that we 
should be slaves to material things "which perish with the us- 
ing;" to the delusion of things. The things which no eye can 
measure, no bodily sense apprehend, which no one envies, or can 
take away, Truth, Goodness, Hope, . . these alone, because they 
are eternal, because they are divine, can build up what is best in 
us, can provide for us lasting happiness. Unreal as they seem to 
be, in comparison with the stupendous, powerful, evident phys- 
ical things, yet they are the only reality, they have the only last- 
ing worth. 

"It is the secret of all unhappy people, and unhappy nations, 
that they have parted company with the eternal Inner Facts of 
this universe, and followed the transient, outer Appearances 
thereof. Had they known Nature's Right Truth, Nature's Right 
Truth would have made them free." 



CHAPTER XXVI. 



SIN. 



Every unRightness is sin. Everything that is not of Faith, 
is sin. To him who knows what is good to do, and does it not, to 
him it is sin. Every one who practices sin, is a slave of sin. Re- 
pent and reform; for the blotting out of your sin. Baptize, and 
wash away your sin, calling on the Name of the Lord. Love 
will cover a multitude of sins. 

Not of Faith. — Any act in which we cannot repose entire con- 
fidence as being in perfect harmony with Truth and Love; or, 
any departure in any degree from our duty of Fidelity to the 
Will of God, is sin (43.) 

Reform. — convert yourself; have definitely turned from your 
evil way, your wrong practice, into the Way of God, in Truth. 

Blotting out. — to cancel a debt by running a pen over the 
account. 

Callii1[g on the Name. — invoking the power of God, which 
co-operates with us "to will and to work out His good pleasure." 

Love will cover. — hide^ remove from consideration. See 
Note 54. 

2 God sent His servant Jesus, blessing you in turning each 
from his evil way. Christ died for our sins. He bore our sins 
in his own body on the tree, that we should leave sin and live in 
Rightness. Though the body is dead because of sin; yet in the 
spirit of Christ is Life, through Rightness. If one died for all, it 
was because all were dead; and he died for all, that they who 
live should no longer live for their own pleasure, but for his, who 

43. Each of the Greek words for Sin suggests Failure, — ^to 
co-operate with the Divine Order, to live in Right relations to- 
ward God and man; the failure to have paid our debt to God, — 
the duty of being Right, of living in relations of love toward God 
and man. The most positive sins, the most glaring evidences of 
man's inhumanity to man, are all and each extreme failures to 
meet this indebtedness to our Creator and Preserver. The rich 
man who lifted up his eyes in hell; the man who hid his talent; 
were condemned because they knew what was good to do, and 
did it not. 



134 CHAPTER XXVI 



for them, died and rose again; who died for us, that we might 
share his Life. Christ having thus suffered for us in the flesh, 
we should arm ourselves with the same purpose; that we will no 
longer live in human lusts, but during the time that remains, 
that we will live in the Will of God. 

For our sins. — because of our failure to realize the Love of 
God, to acquire His spirit and image (17,) Christ made the su- 
spreme sacrifice of his life to Rectify our purpose and life. Our 
sin, our failure to realize, and to become in the image of God, in 
which He created us to become, compelled the human suffering 
and death of Christ as the only sure way to convince us of the 
evils which follow inFidelity and the blessings of Faithfulness; 
that we might be inspired and impelled to turn from our evil 
ways and devote our lives to Truth and Love. 

In his Pure and Perfect Life he revealed the "image of the 
invisible God." In his "death to sin," his complete subjection of 
his "sinful flesh," which had the same continual, almost irresist- 
ible appeal of the senses for indulgence which is common to our 
flesh, he "condemned sin in the flesh," exposed its deceptive and 
destructive character, and that its inevitable "end is death." He 
also illustrated that our only hope of Salvation in Eternal Life 
is in "leaving sin and living in Rightness," in harmony with the 
Divine Order, — that we may "rejoice in hope of (sharing in) the 
glory of God." 

Though the body is dead because of sin. — ^though the practice 
of sin may have paralyzed and decayed the faculties (the soul 
that sinneth, it shall die;) yet there remains a possibility of spir- 
itual Life (being made alive; see note to iii:12,) if the spirit of 
Christ is acquired as our spirit, and exercised in Rightness. 

3 Every one is tempted by his own lusts. Lust gives birth to 
sin, and sin, when fully grown, brings forth death. Do not let 
sin rule in your dying bodies by obeying its lusts. The passions 
of sins work in our senses to bring forth Death. 

4 If you live in sensual indulgence, you are about to die; but if 
in the power of spirit you put to death the sensual activities of 
the body, you will Live. We are always bearing about in the 
body the dying of Jesus, that the Life of Jesus may also be ex- 
emplified in us. Our Old Man is crucified with Christ, that the 
body of sin might be disabled, that we should be no longer en- 
slaved to sin. 

Put to death. — suggesting complete conquest (50;) you will 
(cause yourself to) Live (3.) 



NOTE 43 135 



Sin is not so much a collection of isolated actions, as a gen- 
eral condition of life springing automatically from the acquired 
wrong nature of the individual, from the fact that his Interest 
is centered in his sensual rather than in his spiritual Serfse (9, 
30, 35,) with the result of failure to know the Truth, to walk in 
the Way, to Love, to be Faithful, and finally, failure to realize 
the image (17) which God made us to conform, to. 

"Whatever dims thy Sense of Truth, 

Or stains thy Purity; 

Though light as breath of summer air, 

Count is as sin to thee." 

See the general indictment in Rom. 3:10-18. — There is not 
even one who is Right; not one who understands, not one who 
seeks after God. All have wandered from the Way; together 
they became worthless; there is not one practicing kindness, not 
so much as one. Their throats are like broken-in tombs; with 
their tongues they deceive. The poison of asps is under their 
lips. Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness. Their 
feet are swift to shed blood. They leave destruction and misery 
behind them. The Way of Peace they have not known. The 
Fear of God is not before their eyes. 

Whatever is in discord with the Will and Order of God, and 
contrary to Rightness, is sin, and reacts upon the sinner; the 
penalty works within him in weakness and loss of power, dissi- 
pation of soul, disease of the spirit, defilement and consequent 
decay of the Life. 

Punishment is not something which happens to a man; it is 
something which happens in a man. What a man does, or 
thinks, instantly reacts upon his nature, and he becomes the 
constantly changing product of his deeds. 

"We can only have the highest happiness, such as distin- 
guishes a Good man, by having good thoughts, and much feeling 
for the rest of the world, as well as for ourselves. If you were 
to choose something lower, and make it the rule of your life to 
seek your own pleasure and escape the duty which is disagree- 
able; calamity might come just the same; and it would be ca- 
lamity falling on a base mind, which is the one form of sorrow 
which has no balm in it, and that may" well make a man say, *It 
would have been better for me if I had never been born.' " 

"Think of the result of existence in the man or woman who 
has lived chiefly to gratify the physical appetites; think of its 
real emptiness, its real repulsiveness, when old age comes, and 



'^•^fTTSS 



136 CHAPTER XXVI 



Bearing about. — ^not only undergoing and exhibiting his 
death to sin, but effectively reproducing his Life in Rightness. 
The Old Man.— see Note 44; crucified (50, 51.) 
The body of sin. — the corporation of senses engaged in sin; 
xxiv:3, 8. 

5 Having died, and been raised with Christ; having eome out 
of the Old Man and his deeds, and entered into the New Man, 
(which is made new, in knowledge of the Truth, to accord with 
the image of Him who created him;) put to death your sensual 
appetites, — adultery, impurity, passion, evil desire, and especial- 
ly greed which is a form of idolatry; for these bring upon you 
the wrath of God. Put off also, indignation, the passion of an- 
ger, malice, slander, all filthy language out of your mouth. Do 
not lie to one another. 

Impurity. — any activity which defiles the life, resulting in 
decay of any of its faculties. "Whatever weakens your reason; 
whatever impairs the tenderness of your conscience; whatever 
obscures your Sense of God; whatever increases the strength 
and authority of your body over your will, — that thing is wrong, 
however innocent it may be in itself." 

The New Man.— (17.) Put off.— (45. ) 

6 You, being dead in trespasses and sins, wholly engaged in 
gratifying the lusts of the flesh, doing the things willed by the 
senses, were by nature deserving wrath. But God, being rich in 
mercy, through His great love with which He loved us., though 
we were dead in sins, made us alive together with Christ. 

Rich in mercy. — displayed in kindness; see note to xii:l. 

7 Once we were ignorant, disobedient, deceived, slaves to lusts 
and various base pleasures, striving in malice and envy, hated 
and hating others. But when the kindness and love-to-man of 
God our Saviour was disclosed; according to His mercy. He made 
us whole, through the washing of "being born again," and re- 
newing of pure spirit, which He poured out on us richly, through 
Jesus Christ our Saviour, that, having been made Right, we 
might become partakers, (according to the hope,) of Life 
eternal. 

Made us whole. — according to His characteristic sympathy 
and Goodness, He cured us of these destructive moral diseases. 

8 Beware lest there be in any of you a wicked heart of infidel- 
ity, to depart from the living God; but remind yourselves every 



NOTES 43, 44, 45 137 



the senses are dulled, and the roses have faded, and the lamps at 
the banquet are smoking and expiring, and desire fails, and all 
that remains is the fierce, insatiable, ugly craving for delights 
which have fled forever more." 

Sin is disease, resulting in moral decay and death. Disease 
cannot be forgiven. Its effects may be suspended (forgiveness,) 
but the 'cause must be removed (put to death,) to insure health 
and wholeness (Salvation.) That which is decayed (dead in 
sin,) may be cleansed (baptized,) and purified (sanctified,) by 
the holy spirit which God has given us. The habit of sin be- 
comes moral slavery; xxvii. 

A trespass is a failure, through weakness, (carelessness and 
thoughtlessness are both weaknesses,) to fulfill a moral obliga- 
tion; to default in a debt. Sin is a stronger word, suggesting 
willful failure. One is disregard; the other defiance. 

44. The Old Man; the natural life in the flesh; the organiza- 
tion (50) of the senses engaged in fleshly sins, decayed by 
treacherous lusts. "When we were living in the flesh, the pas- 
sions of sins energized in us to bring forth fruit unto death." 

"Man's superior part. 
Unchecked, may rise from art to art; 
But when his own great work is but begun. 
What reason weaves, by passion is undone." 

"The passions, as they lead to what is noblest, when under 
control and rightly directed; yet they hurry us on to what is 
most disastrous if they break loose. We do not need to be led 
into temptation; we have it within us." 

"E'en as a driver checks his restive steeds. 
Do thou, if thou art wise, restrain thy passions. 
Which, running wild, will hurry thee away." 
"The peace of God, is to those alone who hold their passions 
in subjection, and their spirit in quietness." 

45. To put off; to divest one's self. Having put off every 
weight (encumbrance,) and the pleasantly surrounding sin, we 
should run with perseverance the race lying before us. — Heb. 
12:1. Having put off all filthiness, and evil excess; accept in 
gentleness the established Word, which is able to save .your 
souls. — ^Jas. 1:21. Having put off all malice, and deceit, and 
pretense, and envy, and evil-speaking; as new-born babes, earn- 
estly desire the pure milk of the Word, that you may grow in it. 
— 1 Pet. 2:1. 



138 CHAPTER XXVII 



day, as long as it is called "to-day," that none of you may be 
hardened by the deceptions of sin. 

Infidelity. — "To cease to live up to the purest purpose we can 
form; to no longer endeavor to purify the purpose by which we 
live; to fail to love that which is Best and Highest; this is the 
only infidelity, the only desertion of God." 

Hardened. — having lost Sensitiveness, of spirit, of sympathy, 
of Love. 

9 If we willingly sin, after receiving the knowledge of the 
Truth, there remains no more a sacrifice for sin, but a fearful 
expectation of judgment. We know that the judgment of God 
is according to Truth. According to your hardness and impeni- 
tence of heart, you treasure up wrath for yourself in a Day of 
Wrath and of the right judgment of God; who will render to 
each according to his works. Those who of self-will disobey the 
Truth, and are willing followers of wickedness. He will crush in 
burning anger, — every soul that works evil; in the Day when 
God shall judge the secrets of men, through Jesus Christ. 
After receiving the knowledge. — see note to vi:4. 

CHAPTER XXVII. 



SLAVERY TO SIN. 

No one is able to serve two masters; for he will either hate 
the one and love the other, or he will attach himself to the one 
and despise the other. You are not able to serve God while 
making an idol of wealth. 

To serve. — with absolute devotion and fidelity (46.) 

2 Every one who practices sin, is a slave of sin. By whom any- 
one has been conquered, by him he is enslaved. Do you not know 
that to whom you give yourself up with the obedience of a slave, 
his slave you are, — whether of sin unto Death, or of obedience 
unto Rightness? 

His slave you are. — You are free — only to serve; either flesh 
or spirit; either self or God. "The work of Rightness is peace; 
and the result of Rightness, quietness and assurance forever." 

3 I (Paul) am by nature sensual, enslaved to sin. I see myself 
doing that of which I do not approve; practicing what I hate. 



NOTES 46, 47 139 



46. A great part of the population of the Greek cities were 
slaves; sometimes captives of war, but mostly having been sold 
for debt. Our sins of omission are unpaid debts to God, for 
which we are hopelessly in default. See parable of the Need of 
Mercy, xxi:4. We are also slaves to sinful habits and sensual 
desires. The slave word occurs in the New Testament 166 times. 

The verb of the slave word is often used in the sense of loyal 
service which is absolute, exclusive, without reservation, restric- 
tion, or qualification; in short, Fidelity. This is the word trans- 
lated "to serve" through this chapter. 

"It is not good to be a slave, — but it is an infinitely fataler 
predicament to be without a master. There is properly but one 
slavery in the world; in which all slaveries and miseries that af- 
flict the earth are included; and it is curiously the product and 
natural result of the thing we mistakenly call liberty; and ex- 
cept by accepting Mastership, and bowing the neck to the yoke 
of absolute submission to the Best we can find, there is no con- 
ceivable deliverance from its tyranny. Cosmos is not Chaos sim- 
ply by reason of this one quality that it is governed. Where 
Wisdom, even approximately, can contrive to govern, all is 
Right, or is ever striving to become so; where folly is emanci- 
pated, and gets to govern, as it soon will, all is wrong. This is 
the sad fact." 

Friends and relatives often gave the slaves the means (re- 
demption) to buy themselves out of slavery, to free themselves; 
whereby they became morally bound to their benefactors. (22) 
The word translated "to redeem," means to liberate from this 
slavery in which we are bound by habit, "to serve the living 
God;" to transform a slave of the flesh into a son of God. It is 
liberation from bondage to our appetites and passions, from the 
tyranny of the thoughtless cruelties of each man to his fellow 
man; to free from terror of the implacable vengeance of the out- 
raged Order of the Universe. "There is something better than 
to liberate. It is to put life and power into men that they may 
liberate themselves." The word is without restrictions as to 
method or price of redemption. See Lk. 21:28. 24:21. Acts 
7:35. Heb. 11:35. 

47. Those intense cravings of appetite and self-will, which 
reason and conscience (moral judgment) disapproved, reason 
and conscience yet could not govern, and had to yield to them. 
This is what drives Paul to despair. Then this hope dawned. 
Christ died to them. "In Christ" I too can render them impo- 



140 CHAPTER XXVII 



This sensual force, this indwelling sin, takes the decision out of 
my hands. I have a good will; but I cannot put it into eflfect. 
My Inner Man, my better judgment, delights in God's Law. Yet 
I am an unwilling spectator of the coercion of my faculties; this 
sensual power warring against my better judgment and taking 
me captive, — a pitiful slave of sin. Oh, wretched man that I am ; 
how shall I be delivered from this death to which I am bound? 

A pitiful slave. — see Note 47. 

This death. — or, dead body. As the result of sin is death, so 
the body, as a corporation of faculties engaged in sin is inevita- 
bly dying, in effect dead; and he is like a murderer bound to the 
dead body of his victim; or a paralytic dragging a dead limb. 

4 Blessed be God, through Jesus Christ I am delivered. Our 
Old Man is crucified with Christ, that the organization for sin 
might be disajbled; that we should be no longer enslaved to sin. 
No condemnation falls on those who are "in Christ Jesus;" who, 
in the power of spirit are dominating the lusts of the flesh. The 
spiritual power of "life in Christ Jesus" sets me free from the 
power of sin and Death; delivers me from the slavery of decay, 
into the glorious liberty of the children of God. Where the spirit 
of the Lord is, there is liberty. 

5 You were slaves of sin; but thank God, you heartily obeyed 
the Word to which you were delivered; and having been set free 
from sin, you became slaves to Rightness. As you had given up 
your faculties in slavery to defilement and lawlessness, until they 
became habits of evil will; so now engage your faculties in ab- 
solute service to Rightness, unto purification. 

To which you were delivered. — ^for instruction in Truth and 
Rightness. 

Slaves to Rightness. — in absolute Fidelity (46.) 
Faculties. — members of the flesh; see note to xxiv:3. 

6 When you were slaves of sin, not serving Rightness, what 
profit did you have in the things of which you are now ashamed? 
The end of those things is death. But now, having been freed 
from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your profit 
in purity, and the end is eternal Life. For the rations of sin is 
Death; but the Favour of God is eternal Life in Christ Jesus our 
Lord. 

What profit did you have? — "The martyrs to vice far exceed 
the martyrs to virtue, both in endurance and in numbers." "You 
are invited to be free; only do not make your freedom an oppor- 



NOTES 47, 48 141 

tunity for indulgence of the flesh, but, in Love serve one an- 
other." 

Rations. — not wages, but the miserable food of the slave; not 
a reward, but a result. 

7 You shall know the Truth; and the Truth shall set you free. 
A Rightness of God's design has been disclosed, p<ossible to all 
the faithful "in Christ Jesus;" they being made Right through 
the Redemption which is 'In Christ Jesus," 

8 He gave himself wholly for us, that he might liberate us 
from all lawlessltess, and might purify to himself a select people, 
zealous in good works. "In the Beloved" we have liberation 
(through his Blood,) the removal of sins, in accordance with the 

tent, disable sin in the flesh, if I wholly appropriate his spirit, if 
I irrevocably invest myself in his life. First, he suffers with 
him; he died to every self-willed impulse; merging all his pow- 
ers of Sense (19,) love, faith, hope, spiritual force, into this 
great undertaking, — to lose himself out of the Old Man of sen- 
sual selfishness, and find himself in the life of Christ. He is 
transformed by the renewing of his mind (repentance,) by the 
invigorating of his spirit (new-birth.) He slips the natural 
man. He becomes the New Man in Christ Jesus. Is this a new 
form of selfishness? No; Christ's love constrains him. 

48. A seal is a signature of endorsement or guarantee, of a 
present ownership, or value, or of a future performance. Jn. 
6:27. — Him the Father sealed with the holy spirit. Rom. 15:28. 
—having sealed to them this fruit. — 2 Cor. 1:21, 22. — Now He 
who establishes us in Christ, and anointed us with Grace, is God; 
who also sealed us, and gave us the earnest of the spirit in our 
hearts. An earnest, is a part-payment, which is also a pledge 
of future full-payment. An acquisition is that which is grad- 
ually saved up. Acts 20:28. — God acquired the Church with his 
own blood. 1 Th. 5:9, 10. — God has not appointed us unto wrath, 
but unto acquiring salvation, through our Lord Jesus Christ, 
who died for us. 2 Th. 2:13, 14. — God chose you from the be- 
ginning, for salvation, that you should be made whole in purifi- 
cation of spirit and faithfulness in Truth; to which He invited 
you through the Gospel, that you should acquire the glory of our 
Lord Jesus Christ. The gift of holy spirit, with its possibilities 
of exalting us to glory, — if we improve our consciousness of its 
presence and exercise, its powers, — is both the pledge and first 
fruits of that glory. 



142 CHAPTER XXVIII 



riches of His Favour, with which He Favoured us in all wisdom 
and good Sense, having made known to us the mystery of His 
Will. Having been faithful in the true Word of your salvation, 
you were given the promised holy spirit as a guarantee that 
there should be a day of deliverance; as a pledge of your inher- 
itance, and as a power for the liberation of the acquired posses- 
sion. 

He gave himself wholly. — always an expression of Christ's 
supreme, unreserved devotion of himself to the object of assur- 
ing us of the love of God, and in return, awakening such hearty 
Love of God as would have the effect of breaking the power of 
self-will (lawlessness,) to which we were bound in destructive 
slavery. 

Lawlessness. — (13) enslaved to self-will and the anarchy of 
error. 

Select people. — of extraordinary usefulness, of unique value. 
**By their fruits you shall know them." 

Through his Blood. — (6) the expulsive, cleansing power of 
his Life in us. 

Guarantee. — seal (48;) also, pledge — earnest; possession — 
acquisition. (22.) 

CHAPTER XXVin. 



BAPTISM. 

He who has been washed, (you are clean through the Word 
which I have spoken to you,) has no need but to bathe his feet, 
then he is wholly clean. Baptism now saves; not the putting 
away of the filth of the flesh, but the inquiry of a good con- 
science toward God; (the clean of heart shall see God,) calling 
upon the Lord out of a clean heart. 

Has no need but to bathe his feet. — (49) wandering in lesser 
wickedness. The foot, figuratively, for walking — activity in 
conduct that defiles. Ps. 119:9. — Wherewithal shall a young 
man cleanse his way ? By taking heed thereto according to Thy 
Word. Having been purified in spirit, the frequent temporary 
defilements, of sensual thoughts and imaginations, which if in- 
dulged in might become habit, constitute the danger. 

The inquiry of a good conscience. — The object of baptism is 
not merely to relieve the morally cleansed from the disturbing 



NOTE 49 143 



consciousness of sin (Heb. 10:2. — those once cleansed having no 
longer conscience of sins;) not only to provide him with "^'a con- 
science void of offense toward God and man;" but it is a removal 
of obstructions in preparation for service (xvi:12.) that, having 
a clear conscience (a new spirit of mind through repentance, and 
a purified spiritual Sense, 9,) he shall now positively inqi^Hre 
what is the pleasure of God (Acts 9:6.) 

2 Unless anyone be born anew, of water and spirit, (having 
been born again, through the Living and eternally continuing 
Word of God; through the washing of "being born again.") he 
cannot enter into the Kingdom of God. 

49. Baptism, the Moral Bath, washing the body, as a re- 
ligious ceremony symbolizing the cleansing of the mind and 
heart from the defilement of sinful lusts, had long been practiced 
by the Jews. As the baptized came up out of the water, he was 
declared, in the language of the rabbis, to be "born anew;" to 
have "risen into a new life;" the past, with all that belonged to 
it, was "dead," and he was a "new man;" the "old man," with all 
its defilements, was "buried" in the waters of baptism. 

Birth is not the beginning of life; we do not know when life 
begins. Birth is entrance into consciousness of life. See Note 
17. 

The literal meaning of the word "baptize," to wash, is shown 
in Mk. 7:4, 8. — And coming from the market, unless they bap- 
tize themselves, they eat not. — baptism of cups and pots, brazen 
utensils, and couches. Lk. 11:38-41. — The Pharisees were 
amazed that he had not baptized before the dinner. And the 
Lord said, "You Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and the 
dish, but your inside is full of plunder and wickedness. Rather 
produce mercy in what you are, and behold, you are altogether 
clean. Rev. 19:13. — He was clothed in a garment baptized in 
blood. Heb. 9:10.— divers baptisms. See Mt. 20:22. 1 Jn. 1:7. 
Rev. 7:14. 19:8. 

"No ceremony amounts to anything except as it represents 
something that takes place in the heart and life. Pantomime 
cannot purge. No man can wash away a sin of which he has 
made no repentance." Isa. 1:16, 17. — Wash your self; have be- 
come clean; remove wickedness from your souls; . . cease from 
your wickedness; learn to do well; . . and come, let us reason 
(verb of Word, 1.) together, saith the Lord, and though your 
sins be as purple, I will whiten as snow; and though they be as 
scarlet, I will xnake white as wool. 



144 CHAPTER XXVIII 



Born anew, — ^^"to the top;" new-born throughout. See Note 
17 and xx:3. 

3 John came proclaiming baptism of repentance unto removal 
of sins; and many were baptized by him, acknowledging their 
sins. "I indeed baptize you in water unto repentance; but he 
who follows me, will baptize you in pure spirit and fire. His 
winnowing fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his 
floor, and will gather his wheat into his storehouse; but the 
chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire." I came to cast 
fire on the earth; I would that it was already kindled. 

Unto repentance. — A revision of mind is the object of bap- 
tism. Without this result it is fruitless and futile. 

In pure spirit and fire. — both purifying agents. Water 
cleanses outwardly; fire purifies internally. The effect of the 
holy spirit (one in character, whether of God or in man,) is to 
purify and transform the Inner Man of mind and spirit. See 
xxii:5. - 

Unquenchable fire. — see Note 40. 

4 Baptize, and wash away your sins! Repent, and be baptized 
in the Name of Jesus Christ, unto removal of sins, and you will 
receive the gift of holy spirit. These things (covetous, adulter- 
ers, drunkards, etc.) some of you were; but you washed them off, 
you were purified, you were made Right, in the Name of the 
Lord Jesu.s and in the spirit of our God. Thus it is fitting that 
we should accomplish Rightness. In one spirit we were all 
baptized into one body. As many as were baptized into Christ, 
invested in Christ. 

In one spirit.— see verse and note above. 
Invested. — see Note 16. 

5 Christ loved the Church, and gave himself wholly for it, that 
he might purify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water 
(baptism) in the Word; that he might present it to himself, the 
glorious Church, having no spot or flaw, or any such thing, but 
being pure and blameless. 

Baptism in the Word. — "You are clean through the Word." 
" — born again through the living and eternally continuing 
Word." "Purify them in Thy Truth; Thy Word is Truth." 

6 "You are complete in him;" putting out of the body the sins 
of the flesh; having been buried with him in baptism; in which 
also, you were raised with him, through faith in the energy of 



NOTES 50, 51 145 



God, who raised him from the dead. You, who were dead in 
trespasses and sins. He made alive, with him, having given Grace 
to put away all the trespasses. If, therefor, you were raised 
with Christ, seek those higher things where Christ is, at the 
right hand of God. Be Sensible of the high things, rather than 
of earthly things; for you died to their appeal, and your life is in 
safe keeping, with Christ, in Gi)d. 
He made alive. — see xxix:14. 

50. The dead are insensible; and death to sin is insensibility 
to the appeal of its desires. The continual practice of baptism, 
the washing of sinful thoughts and practices out of the life, has 
the effect of making us insensible to all forms of sensual, sinful 
appetites and allurements; deadens them, sterilizes them, makes 
them fruitless. Hence; die to sin, die to lust, die to your old, 
vulgar, enslaved, "rotting" self; die to the impulse of animal 
passion, and the self-assertion of worldly desire, because Christ 
died to them, and you are "in Christ." The Old Man (44) is the 
combination of the mental and physical faculties to accomplish 
the natural desires of the senses, to gratify the flesh, to work 
unRightness. This combination must be disabled, disorganized; 
the life set free from slavery to it; the faculties reorganized to 
accomplish the Right, well-pleasing, Will of God, in New Life. 

Two men pass a saloon. The pungent odor invites them. One 
man is dead to it; it appeals to no sense, to no desire. The other 
man is alive to it; keenly sensible of its appeal. Those who are 
dead to sin have conquered and silenced the voice of every appe- 
tite which is an impediment to the Life of the spirit. Those who 
are alive unto God have cultivated a -keen Sense and interest in 
the Divine Life in themselves. * They are growing, in spirit, in 
the Life of God. See xxii:14. 

51. The crucifixion, death, and resurrection of Christ are 
presented as figures illustrating the crucifixion of desire, the 
death to sin, and resulting insensibility to temptation; and the 
transfer into the higher Life in the spirit of Christ, which 
should take place in each of us. If, here and now, we truly live 
in him, we die with him, and here and now rise with him into the 
Life immortal of spiritual Rightness. The subjective change 
wrought is called; new birth, resurrection, a new life, a new cre- 
ation (or, creature,) a renewing of the mind, a dying to sin and 
living to Rightness, a transition from darl^ness to light. It is 
regeneration; renovation, revolution, evolution; restoration of 
the image of God. 



146 CHAPTER XXVIII 



Where Christ is. — If you have crucified your sin-full flesh, 
conquered your sensual appetites, and entered upon the New 
Life; center your mind and interest upon the Best Things. De- 
sire earnestly the heavenly blessings which are at the disposal 
of Christ, who is in the place of power with God. 

Be Sensible (19.) . . for you died (50.) 

8 Shall we who died to sin, still live in it! Do you not know 
that we who were baptized "into Christ," were baptized into his 
death! Through baptism we were buried with him, unto this 
death to sin, in order that, as Christ was raised up from the dead 
(through the power of the Father,) so we, likewise, should live 
a New Life. If we participated in his death, we should partici- 
pate in his new life; knowing that our Old Man was crucified 
that the organization for sin might be disabled that we should 
be no longer enslaved to sin. 

Into his death. — Baptism, the leaving behind of the "filth of 
the flesh;" the New Man rising into his New Life; these are 
forcibly suggested to us by that death to sin which Christ exem- 
plified through his life; the climax of his death and resurrection 
emphasizing and confirming its object and success. See v:4. 

Through baptism. — not by the ceremony; but assuming that 
we have realized the object which the ceremony suggests. 

The Old Man (44.) . . was crucified (51.) 

9 He who died to sin, has been made Right. Christ, having 
been raised from the dead, dies no more; Death has no power 
over him. For in dying to sin, he died once for all; and he lives 
to God always. Likewise we should purpose to be dead indeed to 
sin, but alive to God, — ^in Christ* Jesus our Lord. 

Alive to God. — ^living in the Life of God. (50;) in perfect 
knowledge, perfect communion, acquiring glory. See xvi:14. 
Dead indeed to sin. — see xxvi:5. 

10 Then do not let sin rule in your dying bodies, to obey its 
lusts; do not submit your faculties to sin that they may become 
weapons of unRightness; but present yourselves to God as alive 
from the dead, and your faculties to serve as instruments for 
the accomplishment of Rightness. 

Faculties. — mental and sentimental; also the will. 



CHAPTER XXIX. 



REPENTANCE. 

John came proclaiming a baptism of repentance for removal 
of sins. "Repent, for the Kingdom is at hand. Repent, and 
turn to God, and show your repentance by your works; for the 
ax is already laid at the root of the trees, and every tree that 
does not produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the 
fire." 

A baptism of repentance. — (52) a radical change of mind, 
purpose, and conduct as the result of moral cleansing (49.) "No 
world, or thing here below, ever fell into misery without first 
falling into folly, into sin against the Supreme Ruler of it, by 
adopting as a law of conduct that which was not a law, but the 
reverse of one. And until its folly, its sin be cast out of ft, there 
is not the slightest hope of its misery going, and not for all the 

52. Repentance, is a positive "change of mind," leading to 
reformation; a hearty revision of the purpose of life; interest 
taking a new and higher form, and pursuing it earnestly, with 
the object of a radical change, in spirit, purpose, and direction; 
a complete transformation (17) of character. 

It is to alter the channel and direction of thought; to center 
consideration upon something totally different, spiritual instead 
of sensual, heavenly instead of worldly; to replace conceit of 
intellect, arrogant prejudice, "hardness of heart," vnth the hu- 
mility, simplicity, receptiveness of a child; with Sensitiveness, 
and "tenderness of heart." Unless it results in reformation of 
character, it is imperfect. It is not only to "deplore those sins 
we have committed," but to no longer "commit those sins we 
have deplored." 

As Faith, Hope, Love, in their perfect forms, are habits of 
mind; so repentance is a revision and reversal of the natural 
habit of mind, — ^from selfishness to service, from self-will to 
God's pleasure. It is a refining of mind, heart, (and consequent- 
ly, of spirit,) as the source of life and character; a purification 
of life at the f ountainhead. "Keep thy heart with all diligence, 
for out of it are the issues of life. As a man thinketh in his 
heart, so is he." 



148 CHAPTER XXIX 



charity and rose water in the world will its misery try to go un- 
til then." 

Turn to God. — the grammatical form of the word suggests a 
positive reformation. So the word is translated elsewhere. 

The ax is already laid. — see viii:8. 

2 There shall be proclaimed unto all nations, repentance and 
putting away sin; revision of mind and removal of sin; repent- 
ance toward God, and faithfulness unto Jesus Christ; repentance 
unto Life; that they may reform, and their sins may he put 
away. Repent of your wickedness, and request of God that the 
thought of your heart may be put away. Repent and reform, 
for the blotting out of your sins; so that times of soul-uplifting 
may come from the presence of the Lord. 

3 Do you despise the abundance of His kindness. His forbear- 
ance from punishment. His slowness to anger; being ignorant 
that the kindness of God is not weakness, but love leading you 
to repentance? Walk no more in the vanity of your minds, with 
your understanding darkened, being strangers to the Life of 
God through ignorance, because of the inSensibility of your 
hearts; having cast off all feeling, and having given yourselves 
up to license, that you may indulge in impurity without re- 
straint. But, having left behind the Old Man of the former con- 
duct, which is decayed by deceptive lusts, invest in the New 
Man, which is made new in knowledge of the Truth; created, ac- 
cording to God's original design, in Rightness and Holiness. 

Walk no more.^ — abandon your present futile and ineffective 
course of conduct. 

Vanity. — ^folly, empty of Truth. 

4 Who did know the mind of God? But we have the mind of 
Christ. Be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you 
may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect Will of 
God. The peace of God, that is far above the comprehension of 
every mind, shall guard your affections and thoughts "in Christ 
Jesus." 

Prove.— also approve, apply. Prove by trying; discover its 
perfections by experience. 

Guard your affections and thoughts. — defend and govern 
your Imaginations (20;) guarding against the entrance of error, 
self-will, fear, defilement. 

5 With gentleness discipline those who oppose; trusting that 
God may give them repentance unto recognition of the Truth; 



CHAPTER XXIX 149 



leading captive every mind, to bring it into obedience to Christ. 
Grief that is according to God, works out permanent repentance 
unto salvation. 

Grief according to God. — because of having displeased Him; 
recognizing that our sin necessitated (iii:5,) his sacrifice. 

PARABLES OF REPENTANCE. 

ONE OUT OF ONE HUNDRED. 

6 What man of you, having one hundred sheep, and having lost 
one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine and go after the lost 
until he finds it; and having found it, he carries it on his shoul- 
ders rejoicing. Having come home, he calls together his friends 
and neighbors, saying, "Rejoice with me, for I have found my 
sheep which was lost." Such joy is in heaven because of one 
sinner repenting, rather than for ninety-nine Right ones who 
have no need of repentance. 

Lost. — The "lost souU* is out of the Way, walking in dark- 
ness, separated from the "help'* (12.) — direction and support — 
which is found in co-operation with His Will. No life is ever so 
lost that it cannot be found. 

Right ones. — ^formal observers of the Law; like the elder 
brother, verse 12. 

ONE OUT OF TEN. 

7 What woman, having ten coins, if she should lose one, does 
not light a lamp, and sweep the house, and search thoroughly 
until she finds it? Having found it, she calls together her 
friends and neighbors, saying, "Rejoice with me, for I have 
found the coin which I lost." Such joy is seen by the angels of 
God when one sinner repents. 

Ten coins. — her wedding pledge and dowry, worn as head- 
band or bracelet. 

ONE OUT OF TWO— THE LOST SOUL. 

8 A certain man had two sons. The younger said to his father, 
"Give me the part of the property that is coming to me;" and he 
divided the property, 

9 A few days later, the younger son, having gathered all of his 
share, went away into a distant country, and there scattered his 



^1 



150 CHAPTER XXIX 



property, living dissolutely. When he h^d spent all, there came 
a severe famine through that country, and he became destitute. 
He attached himself to one of the citizens, who sent him into the 
fields to feed swine; and he was longing to fill his stomach from 
the pods which the swine ate, for no one was giving him any- 
thing. 

Dissolutely. — ^without saving; opposite of 56; scattered his 
means of help. See note xix:2. 

10 Having come to his sane mind, he said, "How many of my 
father's hired servants have more than enough bread; and I am 
perishing of hunger. I will arise and go to my father, and I will 
say, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I 
am no longer fit to be called your son. Take me as one of your 
hired servants." 

Hired servants. — merely moral men; virtuous because it 
pays. 

Perishing. — becoming lost out of Life, because of Lawless- 
ness (13.) 

I have sinned against heaven and before you. — I have missed 
the heavenly mark, and have forfeited your approval. 

11 Having risen up, he went to his father. While he was yet 
far away, his father saw him, and pitied him, and ran and 
folded him in his arms, and kissed him passionately. And the 
son said, "I have sinned against heaven and before you, and am 
no more worthy to be called your son." But the father said to 
his servants, "Bring at once the best garment, and clothe him, 
and give a ring for his hand, and sandals for his feet, and kill 
the fattened calf, and eating it we shall enjoy ourselves; for this 
son of mine was dead and is alive again ; was lost and is found." 
And they began to enjoy themselves. 

Garment (16.) . . ring . . sandals. — The ring was a signet, 
suggesting that the son had again a Name (2,) a restored per- 
sonal integrity and purpose. Slaves wore no shoes (sandals.) 

12 His elder son was in the field; and as he was returning and 
came near the house, he heard music and dancing. Calling one 
of the servants to him, he inquired the cause; and the servant 
replied, "Your brother has come, and your father has killed the 
fattened calf, because he received him in good health." And he 
was angry, and would not go in. 

His elder son. — loyal but not loving; Right, but not Good 
(14.) 



NOTE 53 151 



13 Then his father plead with him; and he replied, "See how 
many years I Served you, and never opposed your command- 
ment; and you never gave me a kid that I might enjoy myself 
with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who de- 
voured your property with harlots, you killed the fattened calf 
for him/' 

I served you. — with absolute service (46.) 

14 And he said to him, "Child, you are always with me; and all 
that I have is yours. But it was duty to enjoy ourselves and re- 
joice; because your brother was dead and is alive again, was lost 
and is found." 

Was dead. — Life paralyzed, decayed (4.) "You who were 
dead in trespasses and sins, He made alive; having given Grace 
to put away all the trespasses." 

Duty. — see note to xxx:5. 

CHAPTER XXX. 



FORGIVENESS. 

God exalted Jesus to His right hand, to be a leader and Sa- 
viour; to give repentance and removal of sins; to give knowledge 
of salvation in removal of sins. Jesus Christ gave himself be- 
cause of our sins; that he might deliver us out of the present 
evil age; according to the Will of God. He is the Lamb of God, 
who takes away the sin of the world. He has been disclosed for 
the putting away of sins. 

The removal of sins. — ^forgiveness (53.) 

Gave himself because of our sins (iii:5.) that he might de- 
liver us (from the influence and effects of) the present evil age. 

53. The word which is 47 times translated "forgive," is rep- 
resented 99 times as having a different sense. It is a combina- 
tion of two words meaning: to put, push, throw away; to lift or 
put off of; to suspend. Among its various uses, we have, "Send 
away the multitude," "put away his wife," "he yielded up the 
spirit," "the devil leaves him," "I leave the world," "they for- 
sook him," "suffer it to be so now" (suspend your objection,) "to 
set at liberty (and, deliverance, Lk. 4:18.)" From which we ob- 
serve that it has two general uses; to liberate, disengage one's 
self or others from something; to suspend one's judgment, ac- 



152 CHAPTER XXX 



— "The great mystery of sacrifice is founded on this principle of 
benevolent energy; that you cannot save men from death but by 
facing it with them, nor from sin but by resisting it with them." 

Takes away. — by appropriation of his sacrifice (7;) his Blood 
(Life) in us expels the will to sin, and cleanses our life. 

Disclosed. — declared; see note to iii:5. 

2 This is my Blood which is poured out for the removal of sins. 
If we walk in the Light, as he is in the Light, we have partici- 
pation in him, and the Blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all 
sin. He washed us from our sins in his own Blood. If we say 
that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the Truth is not 
in us. If we acknowledge our sins. He is faithful and Right, and 
will take away our sins, and cleanse us from all unRightness. 

Participation. — having work and profit in common; sharing 
in his virtues and powers; see note to iv:2. 

The Blood . . cleanses us. — Unless the Blood of Christ, 
through the powerful appeal to our imagination of his holy and 
devoted life, has the effect of cleansing us from the condition of 
sin and the will to sin, and transforming us into Christ-likeness, 
— it is shed in vain. 

If we acknowledge our sins. — There is precious instruction in 
knowing we are wrong, and how we are wrong, and why we are 
wrong. The knowledge of our sins is half repentance. 

3 Her many sins are put away, because she loved much. Your 
faith has made you whole. Go in peace. Let the sinless one 
among you cast the first stone at her. I do not condemn you. 
Go, and sin no more. Sin no more, that you do not become some- 
thing worse. 

Put away. — set aside; suspended (54.) 

I do not condemn you. — I do not enforce the penalty of im- 
mediate punishment. I give you another chance in a new life. 

4 Through this man (Jesus) removal of sins is announced; for 
every one who is faithful to him is made Right. Every one who 
is faithful to him receives removal of sins through his name. 
Having put off every encumbrance, and the pleasantly surround- 
ing sin, we should run with perseverance the race lymg before 
us. I send you (Paul) to open their eyes, that they may turn 
from darkness to light, that they may take deliverance from 
sins, and participation among the purified in faithfulness to me. 

Through his name. — Those who are co-operating with his 
purpose (2,) receive the power to eject sin from th^ir Uves. 






NOTE 53 153 



tion or desire; to give up a claim; to relinquish a right or a re- 
venge; not to exact what is due. 

We forgive the sins and trespasses of others against us, — 
their failures to comply with their moral obligations (debts,) to 
us, whether due to their willfulness or weakness, by putting 
away our resentment and hatred toward them; being merciful 
to their failures in the degree in which we would desire mercy 
were the conditions reversed; suspending action and judgment, 
and especially retaliation, that they may have opportunity to 
reform. It is not to abandon caution, or to trust the untrust- 
worthy (xxi:14.) 

"The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his 
glory to pass over a transgression." "Forgiveness is one of the 
indispensable conditions of Love. Not to forgive; not to love, — 
is an unpardonable sin; it is a kind of moral suicide. On this 
great duty eternity is suspended; and to him who refuses to 
practice it, the Throne of Mercy is inaccessible, and the Saviour 
of the world has died in vain." ~ 

God forgives sin; by suspending penalty to the penitent; put- 
ting sin out of the life, the desire and will; releasing from the 
slavery of habit (redemption,) turning the mind from interest 
in it (repentance,) giving power (xxxii:5,) to conquer sensual 
lust (death to sin,) purifying the spirit (sanctification.) The 
condition of Divine forgiveness is always the purpose to reform. 
God "repents" inj:he degree that we "repent." See Jonah 3:10, 
and remember that Nineveh was later destroyed. See distinc- 
tion between trespass and sin in Note 43. 

"If any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was 
Right, and it profited me not; he shall deliver his soul from go- 
ing down into hell, and his life shall see the light." "When the 
wicked man turns from his wickedness, and does that which is 
lawful and Right, he shall save his soul alive. All his transgres- 
sions that he has done, they shall not be mentioned unto him; in 
his Rightness he shall Live. Have I any pleasure at all that the 
wicked should die, saith the Lord God, and not that he should 
turn from his ways and Live?" "Let the wicked forsake his 
way, and the unRight man his thoughts, and let him return unto 
the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him, and to our God, for 
He will fully forgive." 

The Psalmist did not merely say, "I acknowledged my sin 
unto Thee, and thou forgavest my iniquity;" but said, as he 
looked ahead, "I am purposed that my mouth shall not offend; I 
will behave myself wisely in a perfect way." 



154 NOTE 54 



5 Forgive us our sins as we alsa forgive every one indebted to 
us. Forgive us our debts as we also forgive our debtors. If 
you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your 
Father forgive your trespasses. If your brother sin against 
you, reprove him; and if he repents, forgive him. If seven times 
in the day he should sin against you, and seven times in the day 
he should return to you saying, "I repent;" you shall forgive 
him. 

Debts. — what is due, (duty, "due-to-ye,'0 obligations, not 
necessarily financial. Whether the word is "trespasses" or 
"debts," the idea is of obligations of love to God or man which 
have not been satisfied. 

Sin against you. — willfully violate your rights. 

6 Whatever sins you remove, they are removed; and whatever 
sins you retain, they are retained. I give you the keys of the 
Kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall be 
bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be 
loosed in heaven. He who turns back a sinner from his deceptive 
way, shall save a soul from death, and shall cover a multitude 
of sins. 

Remove . . retain. — not pardon, for that is beyond your 
power; but actually take sin away from the character and dispo- 
sition of your fellow men, — that liberation will have 'an eternal 
effect. But the sins which you fail to remove, from your own 
and other lives, remain as an everlasting encumbrance. 

Keys. — to open the Kingdom of heaven to all who will be 
faithful. The freedom or bondage of eternity is fixed on earth. 
These words were addressed to "Peter" as a type of character 
(Jn. 1:43,) impetuous, well-meaning but weak. 

54. Under the Christian dispensation laws are provided by 
which the bankrupt, the financial failures, are "forgiven," their 
debts are "put away," a moratorium is declared, and they have 
the chance of beginning life again. Yet these debts can never be 
as though they had never been; many penalties still hang over 
the debtor's head; but there has been a merciful arrest of 'judg- 
ment; an opportunity for reform. This is the forgiveness for 
which we pray, — which will be granted to us only on the condi- 
tion that we exercise the same merciful arrest of judgment to- 
ward those who trespass against us. The essence of forgiveness 
is not restoration, but the opportunity of reformation. There 
wa^ no re-division of property to the Prodigal Son. 



CHAPTER XXXI. 



GRACE. 

The Word became flesh; full of Grace and Truth; and of his 
abundance we all receive; — Grace for Grace. Grow in Grace, 
and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 
Grace and peace shall ever increase through the knowledge of 
God and of Jesus our Lord. 

Grace for Grace. — (55-;) either, we receive Grace upon Grace 
in continual supply (iii:8;) or, Grace in consequence of his 
Grace; or, Grace, as a result of our will to please God. "For," in 
this instance is the unusual word meaning "opposite and follow- 
ing," ("for the joy that was set before him, he endured the 
cross;" — the joy would be the certain consequence of the en- 
durance of the cross;) or, "in place of," ("an eye for an eye," 
"abuse for abuse.") 

Grow in Grace. — exercise the Grace you have, that it may in- 
crease. See xxi:13. The secret of the enjoyment of Grace is 
that God co-operates with those who co-operate with Him. 

2 We have not a high priest who cannot sympathize with our 
weakness, but one who was tempted in every way as we are — 
yet did not sin. We should therefor oome boldly to the Throne 
of Favour, that we may receive mercy, and find Grace in the 

55. Grace is simply "favour," the condition of being pleas- 
ing to another, or, the ability of giving pleasure; hence, "gra- 
cious," "graceful," "singing in grace unto the Lord." The word 
is seven times translated "favour." Lk. 1:30. — Mary, you have 
found favour (same word as "grace" in verse 28.) with God. Lk. 
2:52. — Jesus increased in favour (same word as "grace" in verse 
40.) with Godi Acts 2:47. — ^having favour before all the people. 
25:3.— -the high priest desired a favour. 

It is a Favour conferred and enjoyed; an advantage or privi- 
lege, in contrast with a material gift. The Gospel is "the Word 
of Favour," "the good message of the Favour of God." 

It is also a Grace or ability to accomplish that which is well- 
pleasing to God. It is the faculty, facility, felicity, of doing His 
Will, attaining Rightness, living faithful in Truth and Love. It 
is always a spiritual faculty (xi:l.) It is sometimes '^thanks," 
because gratitude is an essential Favour. 



^^^ 



156 CHAPTER XXXI 



critical time. As we are receiving a Kingdom which cannot be 
shaken; may we have Grace, through which we may serve, to 
the pleasure of God, with reverence and awe. 

Tempted in every way as we are. — see Note 42, and xiii:9. 
The critical time. — of need of help; of temptation; see note 
to XXV :2. 

3 You were Favoured; not only that you might be faithful for 
Christ, but also that you might suffer for him. Favour be with 
all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an imperishable 
love. 

4 Conduct yourselves toward the outsiders with wisdom; re- 
deeming the opportune time. Let your word be always in Fa- 
vour, seasoned with salt, knowing how you ought to answer each 
one. Let no corrupt word go out of your mouth; but if any 
word, let it be good, administering to the needs of those who 
hear, that it may give Favour. 

Redeeming the opportune time. — seizing every advantage of 
psychological moments. 

Let your word. — Let your Logic be always gracious, and pal- 
atable, and pertinent. 

Corrupt. — worthless, profitless, perhaps foul. 

5 God opposes the proud; and gives Grace to the humble. The 
Favour of our Lord superabounds with our Faith, and Love, **in 
Christ Jesus." The Favour of the Lord Jesus Christ and the 
Love of God, and the fellowship of holy spirit be with you all. 
Favour, mercy and peace shall be with us, from God the Father, 
and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in Truth 
and Love. 

Superabounds." — ^The Favours of God are liberally given to 
all who are living in Faith, and Truth, and Love, and "in Christ." 

Fellowship. — condition of having in common; partnership 
and participation. 

6 To each of us was given Grace, according to the measure of 
(our receiving) the gift of Christ. He gave some (Grace to be) 
apostles, some prophets and messengers of the Gospel, some 
pastors and teachers; for the preparation of the saints for the 
work of service, for building up (edifying) the body of Christ, 
until we may all arrive at unity of Faith, and of the knowledge 
of the Son of God, — unto the full-grown man, — unto the com- 
plete stature of the fullness of Christ; that, exercising th€ 
Truth, in Love, we may grow "into him" in all things. 



CHAPTER XXXI 157 



Grace to be apostles. — ambassadors of God. From a compar- 
ison of 1 Cor. 12:1 and 4, it will be seen that the concrete Graces, 
or gifts of power, are spiritual abilities. 

Prophets. — enlighteners, both as to present and future 
Truth, "building up, both by advice and consolation." — 1 Cor. 
14:3. See xi:2; and on entire verse, xix:5. Pastors. — shepherds. 

The full-grown man. — "no longer infants, tossed and whirled 
about by every wind of clever trickery of teaching." 

7 Having different Graces (abilities of prophecy, service, teach- 
ing, advice, charity, leadership, mercy;) let us exercise them in 
sympathy, kindness, and love, according to the Favour which is 
given to us. Let each, according as he received a Favour, put it 
at the service of the others as good stewards of the many differ- 
ent Favours of God. 

8 We urge you not to have received the Favour of God in vain. 
Kindle again the Grace of God which is in you through the lay- 
ing on of my hands. Be strong in the Grace which is in you. 

9 A Rightness of Grod (a Divine Ideal) has been disclosed (that 
may be acquired) through faithfulness "in Jesus Christ;" all 
those who are faithful, being made Right. It is the gift of His 
Favour, Through Jesus Christ we have access by Faith, into 
this Grace in which we stand fast, and boast in hope of the glory 
of God. 

10 The Favour of God, — salvation for all, — has been declared; 
advising us that, having rejected irreverence and worldly lusts, 
we should live in the present time, sound-Sensibly, Rightly and 
Reverently, awaiting the blessed Hope, and disclosure of the 
Great God, and of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who gave himself 
for us, that he might set us free from lawlessness, and purify to 
himself a select people, zealous in Good Works. 

Irreverence. — opposite idea conveyed in xxiii:l. 
Lawlessness. — (13.) the despotic slavery of self-will (xxvii: 
8.) 

11 Through one man (Adam ) sin was introduced into the 
world; and through sin, death; and death has pierced through 
all, because all have sinned. If through sin Death reigned; how 
much more shall those who have grasped the abundance of Fa- 
vour, and the opportunity of Rightness, reign in Life, — through 
the one Jesus Christ! As sin reigned in death, so Grace may 
reign, through Rightness, until Life eternal, through Jesus 
Christ our Lord. 



158 CHAPTER XXXII 



Pierced. — invaded, conquered, and decayed, — as the cell of 
yeast (which was the ancient symbol of sin,) introduced into 
favorable conditions, extends its corrupting influence, trans- 
forming bit by bit, until "all is leavened" and decayed. (See 
same power of good influence illustrated, xxi:2.) 

Grace may reign. — Rom. 5:16, Though the sentence was to 
condemnation, yet, through Grace is the power to rise out of 
many sins into Rightness. 

12 God is blessing us with every spiritual blessing, for the 
praise of the glory of His Favour, with which He Favoured us in 
the Beloved; "in whom" we have freedom, through the taking 
away of our sins, in the liberality of His Favour. He who spared 
not His own Son, but gave him up for us all; will He not, with 
him, Favour us with all things! 

Every spiritual blessing. — election, adoption, etc. 
With which He Favoured us. — same word as in Lk. 1:28. — 
thou that art highly favoured. 

With him. — equally with the Son, if we become Sons (xiii:6.) 

13 The God of all Favour, who invited you into His eternal 
glory "in Christ Jesus," after you have suffered a little while; 
may he perfect you, confirm, strengthen, and establish you; to 
Whom is glory and power, unto the ages of the ages. Amen. 

The God of all Favour. — the liberal source. 



CHAPTER XXXn. 



SALVATION. 

You shall call his name, Jesus, for he shall save his people 
from their sins. The Son of man is come to save those who are 
lost; to give knowledge of salvation in the putting away of sins. 
Her many sins are put away, because she loved much. . . Your 
faithfulness has made you whole. 

Jesus, for he shall save. — (56.) Jesus means Saviour. 
His people. — those who are faithful to his Word (i:7, 8.) 
From their sins. — not in their sins, not from punishment; but 
from the sins and their destructive effects. 

Who are lost. — strayed out of the Right Way (xxix:6-14.) ■ 
Put away (forgiven, 53,) . . made you whole (saved you.) — 
Salvation follows forgiveness; that is recuperation, according to 



NOTE 56 159 



the laws of nature, follows the removal of the cause of the dis- 
ease. 

2 Though he was a Son, yet he learned obedience from the 
things which he suffered; and having been perfected, he became 
the Author of Eternal Salvation, — to those who obey him. 

Obey. — this word includes the ideas of attention, affectionate 
interest, and carrying out instruction received. 

The Educator has endured a severe course of discipline, to. 
learn — ^for the scholar (disciple;) but the teacher cannot learn 
instead of the scholar. He must still work out his education 
with reverence and humility. The teacher, in a comparatively 
mild sense, suffered for the child's sins of ignorance, that he 
might become the Author of his Education. So the condition of 
healing is obedient Faith in the Physician. 

"God sent His Son into the world that he might incorporate 
himself into the common life of men, identify himself with their 
interests, put himself under their burdens, suffer for their sins; 
that he might awaken within them a spirit of loving obedience 
which would lead them to fulfill all Rightness, personal and 
social." 

56. The verb "to save," is nineteen times translated "to 
make whole" that which is diseased or paralyzed in body. (To 
heal, — alternative word, in Jas. 5:15, 16., 1 Pet. 2:24. In the 
earliest English versions the word "Saviour" was translated 
"Healer.") In the spiritual sense, it means to make whole, to 
restore to wholeness and integrity that which is diseased (43,) 
paralyzed, decayed by sin; healing moral decay, giving strength 
and health to Life (3.) It is restoration, not salvage. 

Also; it is to maintain whole and intact; to keep in safety; 
to prevent from being lost, from that spiritual death which is 
the effect of sin. It is deliverance from hell (40,) in the indirect 
sense that it is deliverance from the dissolution of sin. The 
healing of salvation is through receiving and exercising the 
Grace and God-given spirit, which makes Right the unRight life 
(5.) 

Cleanliness of soul (49) is as necessary to its healing as to 
the healing of the body. 

Salvation is now (or never,) though its effects extend into 
eternity. Yet, like the restoration of bodily health, what has 
been done may be undone, or it may be incomplete. "Sin no 
more lest you become something worse." 



160 CHAPTER XXXII 



3 God desires that all men should come into experience of the 
Truth, and he saved. God chose you, from the beginning, that 
you might be saved, — in purification of spirit, and faithfulness 
to the Truth. According to His mercy, He made us whole, 
through the washing of "being born again," and renewing of 
pure spirit. 

4 God has not appointed us for wrath; but that we should ac- 
quire salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, — that we might 
share his Life. God sent not His Son to condemn the world; but 
that the world, through him, might be saved. God was in Christ, 
convincing the world of His Love; not charging their sins 
against them. If while we were enemies, we were convinced of 
the love of God by- the death of His Son, how much more shall 
we be preserved "in his Life." 

5 The Word of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perish- 
ing; but to us who are being made whole it is a power of God. 
The Gospel of Christ is a power of God unto salvation of the 
faithful; for in it is brought to light God's Ideal of Rightness; 
and therein is revealed the wrath of God upon all irreverence 
and unRightness of men. You are being made whole if you hold 
fast the Word. Those who perish; it is because they did not love 
the Truth, that they might be saved. 

The Word of the Cross. — The Logic, idea, conveyed by the 
Cross (38.) 

The Gospel . . is a power. — see Note 28. 

6 By Grace you are made whole, through faithfulness. Work 
out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God 
who works in you, both to will and to work that which is His 
good pleasure. Your salvation is being worked out in the en- 
durance of the sufferings of Christ. Grief according to God, is 
not to be regretted, as it works out permanent repentance unto 
salvation. 

Fear and trembling. — reverence and humility, perhaps anx- 
iety. 

The sufferings of Christ.- — ^reproducing his death to sin (50.) 
and crucifixion (38, 51.) 

Grief according to God. — xxix:5, 10. 

Permanent repentance. — an unchangeable change, of purpose 
and life. 



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